A potential transit strike on the South Coast has been averted, at least temporarily. Santa Barbara MTD and Teamsters Local 186, which represents transit company employees, have agreed to a one-month contract extension.
The original contract expired at midnight Monday, but both sides agreed to a one-day extension until midnight Tuesday. Tuesday night, MTD officials announced an agreement to extend the contract through July, keeping the buses rolling.
The union members had authorized a strike.
MTD officials have given the Teamsters a state-mediated proposed agreement, and they say they expect union officials to take it to their members for a vote.