Bus riders who rely on the Orange County Transit Authority will need alternative travel plans Monday morning as the agency’s maintenance employees voted unanimously to strike beginning at 12:01 a.m.

A strike by workers with the Orange County Transportation Authority that was slated for Monday has been postponed as the union has agreed to return to negotiations.

Only an hour before the strike was set to begin - right after midnight - the union said it was complying with a request from Gov. Gavin Newsom to return to the bargaining table.

Negotiations between OCTA management and the union representing mechanics and other maintenance workers broke down earlier in the day Sunday, both sides said.

“OCTA is ready and willing to continue negotiating with the union that called the strike to reach a successful resolution and restore bus service as soon as possible.”

The two sides are trying to come to terms on issues including wages, pension increases and adjustments to help lower healthcare costs.

"We are offering a similar contract for the maintenance employees and we hope to come to a resolution to avoid impacting bus service for those who rely on it," said Megan Abba, spokesperson for the OCTA.

Eric Jimenez with Teamsters Local 952 says the union would rather not walk off the job if it can be avoided, but it needs to have its issues addressed in the negotiations.