San Diego’s minibus network and crucial paratransit system were thrown into chaos this week after Transdev drivers and other workers represented by Teamsters Local 542 walked off the job at the company’s Kearny Mesa yard. With much of the workforce off the clock and on the picket line, many Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) minibus routes and the MTS Access paratransit program have been running with limited or no staff, leading riders to report missed trips and long waits on the smaller cutaway buses that Transdev usually operates. MTS and Transdev say they are trying to keep as much service rolling as possible while negotiations continue.
In a notice posted yesterday, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System announced that a "work stoppage is currently taking place" and warned that service from its Copley Park Division would be sharply reduced. That division covers roughly 14 of the agency’s nearly 100 routes, along with MTS Access. The agency published a list of affected minibus routes and urged riders to monitor its Alerts & Detours page or call the Information and Trip Planning office to check on specific trips, according to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.
The walkout began around 3 AM on Monday at Transdev’s Kearny Mesa facility, where Teamsters Local 542 members set up picket lines. "I can tell you that 98-99% are out here on strike, not showing up to work," Teamsters representative Salvador Abrica told CBS 8. Union leaders say members rejected the company’s most recent contract offer and are pushing for higher pay and improved working conditions.
Transdev, for its part, told local media that the workers’ contract expired March 30 and that the company has put multiple proposals on the bargaining table. Its latest offer, the company said, would increase wages by roughly 16% to 21% over three years and establish a clearer pay progression, while talks have continued since negotiations began in February. Those details were reported by CBS 8.
What riders should know
MTS says it is trying to backfill some Access rides with taxis and other outside providers and will lean on alternative resources to keep as many minibus routes running as possible, as often as possible. Officials caution that what is available on any given day could shift quickly. Riders who depend on MTS Access were also warned that, because those trips are booked in advance, it may take several days to reassign and confirm appointment times during the disruption. For route-by-route updates and a list of alternate transportation providers, the agency is directing riders to its service alert page and customer service lines, according to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.
Why this matters
MTS Access serves as a lifeline for riders with disabilities who rely on pre-scheduled trips to reach medical care and other essential destinations, so even a short disruption can hit hard. The workers at the center of this stoppage are represented by Teamsters Local 542, which includes drivers, mechanics and reservation staff in the region. Similar labor actions have disrupted minibus and paratransit operations in earlier contract showdowns, a pattern local coverage has highlighted over recent bargaining cycles, and those past fights continue to shape the debate over how contracted transit service affects reliability for San Diego riders.
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