Labor disputes at grocery stores and bus services across Southern California have been creating serious problems for area residents. 550 Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies also called in sick Wednesday to protest stalled labor talks. The strike against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has hit the region particularly hard, as people have to look for alternative ways to get to work, school and other locations.
See "Strikes Leave S. Calif. Residents in Bind", The New York Times, October 15, 2003