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On Oct. 14, 2,000 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA MTA) maintenance workers went on strike after Amalgamated Transit Union members rejected four of the authority’s contract offers during the past year.

The strike halts Metro Rail and Metro Bus service, but isn’t expected to affect Amtrak, Metrolink and the region’s municipal transit operators.

LA MTA has offered wage increases and an increased contribution for health insurance and other benefits, authority officials said. Maintenance employees currently pay $3 for a spouse and $6 for a family for monthly health care. Last year, LA MTA gave the union a one-time contribution of $3.7 million to make up welfare trust fund reserves, but the fund still is on the verge of bankruptcy, according to a prepared statement.

"MTA’s ability to serve our customers in the long term is at stake," said LA MTA Chief Executive Officer Roger Snoble. "We can’t afford to write our unions a blank check and still be able to maintain bus, rail and highway transportation options for the public."