Orange County Workers Resume Strike Over Final Wage Offer
Teamsters union members resume a strike of Orange County waste and public works employees after rejecting the board's last and final contract proposal.
More than 400 employees represented by Teamsters Joint Council 42 and Local 952 resumed a strike on October 30, 2026, after rejecting a contract proposal from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The workers, who include staff from OC Public Works, OC Waste & Recycling, and OC Community Resources, originally walked off the job on October 13 over pay disputes. A temporary hiatus had allowed waste haulers to access landfills without crossing picket lines, but that period ended after the union rejected the county's latest offer on Monday night.
Orange County Board Chairman Doug Chaffee characterized the proposal as a "last, best and final offer" that includes a cost-of-living allowance and additional holidays. The union rejected the offer, citing a lack of retroactive pay to cover losses from prolonged negotiations. Union spokesman Christian Castro stated that members returned to picketing because the county provided no new offer.
Board members defended the limited wage increase, citing dwindling resources and millions of dollars in settlements for the Airport Fire. Supervisor Don Wagner argued that a larger deal would have a magnifying effect across other county unions, while Vice Chair Katrina Foley noted that inflation and labor costs have outpaced sales tax revenue growth. Simultaneously, the county filed a complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board, alleging that union picketers used illegal human chains to block traffic and misled customers about landfill closures.
