Bus, Rail Drivers Strike in L.A.

Sept. 18 -- Los Angeles officials issued health warnings as thousands of commuters — including many of the city’s poorest residents — were forced to walk or ride bikes to work today during a transit strike that coincided with a blistering SouthernCalifornia heat wave.

While commuter traffic increased slightly, temperatures climbed over 100 degrees Fahrenheit inparts of Southern California over the weekend and were not expectedto drop before the end of the week.

Almost a half-million bus and rail riders were trying to figure out how to get about town as 2,000 buses and light rail and subway lines serving a 1,400-square-mile area remained idle. Today was the first work day after 4,400 transit drivers in Los Angeles County walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. And end to the strike did not appear to be near. A state mediator is scheduled to meet with both sides at 10 a.m. local time Tuesday to set a date to resume negotiations.

Some residents who rely on public transportation in the nation’s second largest city found themselves out of luck. Student Cesar Marroquin nervously stood near a bus stop, hoping one would show up to take him to the East Los Angeles OccupationalSchool. He didn’t hear about the strike until today.

“I just don’t know what else to do. I called my friend but Idon’t see him. I have a major test at 8 a.m.,” the 34-year-old mansaid 15 minutes before test time.

The California Highway Patrol had predicted a half-hour could be added to freeway rides to work and school, but officials said roadway sensors showed a 5 percent increase in traffic during the morning rush.

On the snarled city streets, bumper-to-bumper cars snaked through downtown with workers complaining their commute times had been doubled.

Most Riders Poor, Minority

No negotiations are scheduled between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the unions representing its drivers, clerks and mechanics. At issue in the dispute is a city proposal to reduce overtime paid to bus and rail operators, forcing them to work longer shifts for regular pay. The plan would also require the workers to split their shifts by driving during rush hours and going off the clock during off-peak hours.