Orange County – October 13, 2026 -- More than 465 County of Orange public sector workers, represented by Teamsters Local 952, have launched an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike after contract talks with the county failed.
Strike threatens services for more than 3 million Orange County residents
Local 952 members work in OC Public Works, OC Waste and Recycling, OC Community Resources and other county operations. The union expects the walkout to delay road and flood channel maintenance, landfill operations, and parks and beach maintenance. Repairs to county and first responder vehicles are also expected to slow.
More than three million Orange County residents depend on these services, according to the union.
Union cites months of bad faith bargaining and files ULP charges
Local 952 has filed unfair labor practice charges over what it describes as months of bad faith bargaining by the county. The union says it was met with months of delays, and that members were forced off the job as a result.
Eric Jimenez, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 952, said the union will not back down until a fair contract is secured.
Supervisor pay increase of 25 percent sharpens the dispute
The dispute follows a vote by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to raise supervisors' salaries by 25 percent. Striking members held a press conference on the day the Board met to address the strike, service disruptions and the county's failure to negotiate a contract on key concerns.
Local 952 represents 9,500 workers across Orange County, so the 465 strikers account for a small share of its membership.