TheBus drivers went on strike at 12:04 AM this morning, only three minutes after the threatened deadline.

Union leader Mel Kahele was quoted by the Star-Bulletin as saying, “I believe it is ludicrous for the company to believe that we are going to be in agreement with all the takebacks they are going to have on the bargaining table without even considering requesting for additional monies from the city and again from the City Council.” Kahele also promised that the union was “ready to go three months.”

OTS attorney Perry Confalone was similarly dismayed. He said that the Teamsters refused to give the company a written proposal until an hour or so before the 12:01 AM deadline.

Picket lines have been set up at TheBus’ Middle Street facility. The union also intends to march in front of Honolulu Hale – city hall.

At 5:30 this morning, many people already had contingency plans. Few people were at the city’s designated “‘Ohana Carpool” locations.

At the University of Hawai’i’s Share-a-Ride web site, only 14 rides were offered, and the response was equally small. UH Manoa has opened 1,900 additional parking spaces. All will be subject to the usual $3 fee. Community college campuses have adopted similar measures.

There’s exactly six hours until the 12:01 AM strike deadline. (Ignore the timestamp – my web server’s clock is off.)

The Teamsters resumed negotiations today at 2:30 PM, but a resolution is doubtful. According to leader Mel Kahele, “We actually don’t believe we’re going to be able to settle unless the company decides on withdrawing their so-called 38 takebacks.” (Star-Bulletin, no permalink available.)

Bus fare increases advanced through City Council. A final vote won’t be until September 25^th. (Advertiser, no permalinks.)

Teamsters Union and OTS negotiators are scheduled to resume talks today, and will probably continue late into the night. Many people will not know the outcome until the morning news tomorrow.

In preparation for tomorrow’s threatened bus strike, urban buses that begin operation after 11 PM, and rural buses that begin after 10 PM, have been cancelled for tonight.

At Honolulu Hale, one of the current proposals is dropping monthly and yearly bus passes, and instead charging all riders a 75 cent fare (Honolulu Advertiser, August 25^th, 2003). This is a dollar less than current pay-as-you-go fares for adults, but the current discount from bus passes means daily commuters would be paying approximately $7.50 more per month for the same level of service – with no promises that the daily rate will stay the same. (That figure also doesn’t account for the proposed transfer fees.)

More news will be posted as it becomes available.