Hundreds of Orange County workers went back on strike at the crack of dawn on Thursday, Oct. 29.
More than 400 workers employed by OC Public Works, OC Waste & Recycling and OC Community Resources who are represented by the Teamsters Local 952 reformed picket lines at the County Administration North building and all three county landfills, union representative Christian Castro said.
-
Members of Teamsters Local 952 picket on the entrance road to the Bowerman Landfill in Irvine on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Trucks were let in and out a few at a time. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
1 of 8
Members of Teamsters Local 952 picket on the entrance road to the Bowerman Landfill in Irvine on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Trucks were let in and out a few at a time. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The workers first walked off the job on Oct. 13 after months of unsuccessful labor negotiations. Union officials halted the strike a week later as talks picked up, but members “overwhelmingly rejected” the county’s latest contract proposal Tuesday.
“We made it clear from the beginning that without an improved offer to bring back to our membership, we would return to the picket lines. The county knew exactly what was at stake and chose to do nothing,” Eric Jimenez, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 952, said in a statement Wednesday night. “The Board of Supervisors has forced our members back on strike, and the responsibility for every disruption to county services rests squarely with them.”
The local represents heavy equipment operators, mechanics, waste workers, custodial staff and animal care workers employed by OC Public Works, OC Waste & Recycling and OC Community Resources.
Castro said the county did not present a new offer by midnight Thursday, the union’s announced deadline for restarting the strike.
County officials have said they have contingencies in place to address the disruptions of the strike. The work stoppage will impact the landfills the most, Castro said, while heavy machine operators going on strike could affect storm preparations as high tide and storm season approach.
The Teamsters and county leaders continued bargaining sessions on Thursday and Castro said both sides were engaged in face-to-face talks with a mediator.
“We’re all hoping for the best,” Castro said of negotiations. “It sounds like things are moving.”
“The strike is not helpful,” Third District OC Supervisor Don Wagner said. “We made what I consider to be a very generous offer.”
Whatever comes out of the mediation, the supervisors are likely to consider it at their regular board meeting Tuesday, Wagner said.
City News Service contributed to this report.