The North County Transit District announced Thursday that bus drivers ratified a five-year contract with their employer, First Transit Inc.
Transit officials said last week that they had been warned that a strike was imminent, but the drivers and Cincinnati-based company, which contracts with transit agencies to supply bus operators, reached an agreement soon after.
"We are very pleased that the Breeze bus operators ratified the agreement," North County Transit District Executive Director Matthew Tucker said.
"The Breeze bus operators are not just drivers, they are our ambassadors for both customers and the general public," Tucker said. "NCTD appreciates the professionalism of our Breeze bus operators and we look forward to their continued service and support."
A strike would have crippled the bus services in North County for a few weeks because it would have taken some time to round up replacements. The Coaster train and Sprinter light rail would have been unaffected, according to the transit agency.
First Transit operates in 242 locations in 39 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and four Canadian provinces.
