COTA strike ends

The Central Ohio Transit Authority board Wednesday ratified a three year contract agreement with bus drivers, mechanics and maintenance workers, effectively ending a three-day strike. Bus service resumes today after the board and the Transport Workers Union of America Local 208 voted to ratify the proposal. It provides raises of 7 percent over three years but requires workers to pay more toward their pensions. Workers had rejected the same deal on Monday, but union president Andrew Jordan says union leaders spent several hours Tuesday and Wednesday explaining the details of the contract to members and answering their questions. Workers approved the deal by a margin of 2-to-1.