The labor dispute involving garbage truck drivers represented by Teamsters Local 174 has reached a crossroads and the resolution is unclear.

The drivers provide service to King and Snohomish counties including Maple Valley, Covington, Black Diamond and the surrounding area.

The union has been negotiating exclusively with the Houston-based Waste Management since March 31.

The union came to a tentative agreement March 31 with Allied Waste Service, which is owned by Republic Services with corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Ariz., but the contract has not been ratified by the members.

According to a press release from Waste Management Thursday, April 1, the company’s negotiators presented a final contract offer to the union.

The union came back with a counter offer Friday.

Jackie Lang, spokeswoman for Waste Management said the company is “holding firm with the last offer.”

According to Lang, Waste Management offered a $1 per hour raise, increasing the drivers’ salary to $26.29 and a $1,000 bonus for each member if the contract was ratified Saturday, April 3.

The union and the company are each holding to their last offers at this time.

Gonzales said the drivers will “continue to service the people of King and Snohomish counties. We will make sure their trash is picked up while we evaluate what to do next.”

Gonzales said a ratification vote has not been scheduled for either the Allied agreement or the Waste Management offer.

The members voted to authorize a strike March 28 at the union headquarters in Tukwila.

The vote was nearly unanimous with only one no vote according to Gonzales.

The drivers’ contract expired March 31, but the union chose not to strike while negotiations continued.