SOUTH BEND — It's been more than 6 months since contract negotiations began between the Indiana Toll Road Concession Company and about 150 Teamsters union toll collectors. The two sides met again Friday for another round of bargaining, but union leaders say they're making little progress.

Bargaining negotiators from 4 Teamsters locals are participating: Local 364 in South Bend, Local 414 in Gary, Local 135 in LaPorte County, and Local 142 in Fort Wayne.

Union leadership says at this point there are "no long term plans on their next move." But if progress at the bargaining table doesn't pick up soon, striking will become an option.

It's been the talk of the Toll Road all week.

"There's been some rumblings about a strike from collectors," said Indiana Toll Road spokesman Matt Pierce.

"We began negotiations in early February," said Teamsters Local 364 President Bob Warnock III. "We have had many, many meetings. We are very disappointed in the way Toll Road management is dragging their feet, and dragging this out."

Indiana Toll Road collectors voted 108-103 in December to join the Teamsters union. They've been working without a contract since then.

Temporary workers are the main sticking point preventing an agreement, said Warnock. The ITRCC wants to hire as many temporary workers as they see necessary.

"We brought in temporary workers because the landscape of the road was changing with electronic tolling," said Pierce. "Because of that, we've not laid off one worker. We have not let one worker go because of electronic tolling. We're using natural attrition as more automated systems go up."

But Warnock says that plan is a deal breaker for the union.

"We can't agree to unlimited temporary employees. It would not be fair to the people who work on the Toll Road," he said.

But that's not the only potential disagreement. Wages and benefits packages haven't even been discussed yet. Toll collectors' wages range between $10.38 per hour and $14 per hour, according to Pierce. Teamsters negotiators list an average of $20.67 per hour for toll collectors in other states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

And if the two sides don't find some common ground soon, Warnock says drastic times may call for drastic measures.

"We do have the right to go on strike. It is a possibility," he said.

But Pierce says it's far too early in the negotiation process to give up on bargaining.

"No one should be speaking about a strike at this point. Negotiations have resolved a majority of the issues. Sixty percent have been resolved already by the negotiations in 12 meetings. A strike is the last thing anyone wants, especially the company. We want to work and continue negotiations to find the amicable agreement that works best for both the workers and the company," he said.

Even so, Pierce says the Toll Road is getting prepared.

"It has to be something the company is planning for, because [a strike] is an option. We have to have plans in place to make sure that patrons continue to receive the services. [And we do], absolutely," he said.

But the full impact of a toll collector strike remains unknown.

"During morning rush hour, 60 percent of the traffic is going to travel through the [i-Zoom lanes]. They don't really see the impact of a toll collector being there or not being there. Our daily commuters, they wouldn't see any difference," he said.

Those without an i-Zoom could be affected because of a strike, Pierce said, but only minimally.

"Even our infrequent users would still get through the road," he said.

But even those who didn't drive the road could see residual effects of a strike. Because some truck drivers are also union members, driving on the Toll Road during a strike would amount to crossing the picket line.

"If that happened, we would probably get an edict from our local telling us not to cross the picket line," said Wesley Yancey, a Teamsters local 710 member who has driven a semi for 17 years for the Roadway company based in Chicago. "[That means not driving on the road], right."

Detours around the Toll Road would likely mean more diesel fuel burned, more time on the road, and thus, increased costs to trucking companies.

"If it stretched on, I think you would see prices jumping up [for some goods]," he said. "If it goes that long, yes, I do."

But both sides hope it won't come to that.

"We want to get a contract," said Warnock. "And we're optimistic this Wednesday that we can make some headway."

The two sides will negotiate again on Wednesday, and Warnock says as long as the union feels progress is still being made, he thinks it's unlikely that a strike date will be set. However, he says the union does not have to give any advanced notice before a strike is called.