Transit Strike Averted, at Least for Today

LOS ANGELES-Union and transit officials here averted a full-blown strike early Tuesday morning, but a walkout that could strand 450,000 office workers and other public-transit users could still come within days.

LA’s Metropolitan Transit Authority operates most of the county’s bus and rail lines. Its contract with unions that represent about 6,800 drivers, mechanics and clerks expired at 12:01 this morning.

Though union officials didn’t order a strike, a negotiator said late Monday night that a walkout is still “a very real possibility” if more progress in the contract talks isn’t made soon. Unions here traditionally have provided a 72-hour notice before a strike begins.