It's back to the negotiation table for Capital Metro bus drivers, who have been on strike since Wednesday.

Capital Metro strike

KVUE's Steve Alberts reports

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Negotiations between Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091 and its employer, StarTran, renewed Friday. The union workers -- who are fighting for better health benefits, a larger pay raise and an audit of StarTran's spending practices -- say they are willing to strike as long as it takes.

The two sides have been at odds for 18 months and the union has been working for more than a year without a contract. Negotiations are stuck over a $1,000 bonus management is offering as back pay. The union is asking for a 3 percent pay increase for the year.

Capital Metro officials say as of Friday morning 203 union employees had crossed over the picket line to continue working.

Those workers are helping keep buses running, allowing Capital Metro to provide more operational bus routes Friday -- 33 of the routes are running, compared with 13 routes Thursday.

Passions ran high as buses left early Friday morning outside Capital Metro headquarters. Strikers hurled chants laden with profanity at those who crossed the picket line.

Charles Richards, a striking bus driver, said he is willing to picket as long as it takes to get a fair deal.

"We're hoping after 18 long months we can get a fair and honest contract from the administration," he said

At a bus stop at 10th Street and Congress Avenue, passengers' patience was wearing thin. Fabian Silgro had been waiting for about an hour when he talked with KVUE News.

"It's been kind of rough waiting on the buses," he said.

A few blocks down on Congress more riders were also feeling the strike's impact.

"It's an inconvenience for students who go to UT. A lot of us use the bus system," said Diane Johnson.

Capital Metro says the following routes, which are not operated by StarTran, are running as scheduled: 142, 214, 990, UT Shuttle routes, Northwest Dial-A-Ride and AISD services (with the exception of Kealing afternoon trips).

The salary range at the top of the scale for bus drivers goes from $17 per hour to more than $19.50 cents an hour in Austin. That's the highest of any bus service in the state.

For mechanics the range goes from approximately $21.50 an hour to almost $24 an hour in Austin --also more than the counter parts around the state.

Johnson is rooting for the union.

"I hope the strikers get what they want," she said.