Absolutely no progress has been made in the difficult Port Authority labor dispute involving 2,300 bus-trolley operators, first-line supervisors and other hourly personnel.

Since the authority board and the executive board of Local 85, Amalgamated Transit Union, rejected a state-appointed fact-finder's report Sept. 12, both sides have met only twice, and then never more than for a few hours. As of Friday, no additional meeting had been scheduled.

Listen up, because what's likely to happen will have a major, long-lasting impact on lives, businesses and the Pittsburgh region, even if you have never set foot in a bus.

You've probably guessed: Bad news ahead.

First, some background.

The authority is trying to address costs, historic obligations and work rules that inhibit efficiency. Operating expenses have grown out of control and beyond its means, threatening to run the agency out of cash in the near future even if County Executive Dan Onorato releases $27 million in drink tax/car rental revenues that he's been withholding.

The current budget, already four months into the fiscal year, assumes achieving $10 million in savings from a new labor agreement and reining in far bigger legacy obligations. Next year's projected deficit is $20 million.

An option is to shrink service by 30 percent on top of the 15 percent cuts made last year, along with raising fares -- steps that would leave Allegheny County with a skeleton of a transit system serving too few people at a time progressive metro areas are expanding. Up to 800 employees would face layoff or job elimination in eight months.

On the other hand, Local 85 is intent on keeping generous health care, pension and early retirement benefits won in previous negotiations. Giving up what you've come to expect and depend on as part of the job is a tough pill to swallow.

Significantly, the fact-finder recommended 3 percent yearly pay raises that would not only cover incremental increases in employee health care contributions from the current 1 percent to 3 percent, same as management, but net a 6 percent hourly wage gain. For the final year of the contract, the base pay for drivers would be $25.70 an hour, and for first-line supervisors, about $30 an hour.

By continuing to work under terms of the contract that expired June 30, union leaders are able to preserve the benefits that mean more to members than the extra $1.25 or so an hour in pay. They can still retire after 25 years of service, age notwithstanding, and collect a $500 monthly pension supplement until age 62, health, dental, drug and vision coverage until age 65, and supplemental health care when Medicare kicks in.

With such a nice deal, who's in a hurry to settle?

Meanwhile, nonunion and management employees are working under a wage freeze, already contributing 3 percent of their salary toward health care costs and giving up the $500 monthly supplements, lifetime health care, accrued sick leave toward pensions and other benefits. While the moves impacting 10 percent of the workforce have reduced expenses by $11 million, those people still hold secure jobs with pay and benefits on par with the private sector and peers.

Several weeks ago, "Getting Around" called for the deal-makers to be locked in a room and kept there until they reached agreement -- Mr. Onorato, authority Chief Executive Officer Steve Bland, Local 85 President-Business Agent Patrick McMahon and the union's longtime labor counsel, Joseph J. Pass.

That hasn't happened and isn't likely to happen.

Mr. McMahon has been challenged to let the rank-and-file vote on the fact-finder's recommendations that, in addition to pay raises, increase pension benefits after 25 years of service and continue to provide some of the best benefits in the U.S. public transit industry.

That hasn't happened and isn't likely to happen.

So what happens now?

One way or another, the financial uncertainty and labor impasse are about to come to a head. Very soon.

Nobody is going to be happy.

Options being considered include a strike, a lockout and maneuvering to limit the existing contract.

Court intervention is possible.

There will be turmoil.

Transit riders and the community will have to manage without bus, trolley and incline service for an indefinite time until the various parties come to terms on a contract that will enable the Port Authority to survive financially over the long term.

If things don't pop by the end of the month, look for the authority to shut down in December anyhow so it can preserve money to pay bills such as electricity, provide security at facilities such as bus garages and maintain a basic staff to handle matters from pass refunds to ongoing paperwork.

Public officials and authority leaders, recognizing urgency, are indicating it's time to put matters to rest, one way or another.

They agree there's no more postponing labor and financial problems compounded over many years, and many political administrations, only to leave them for another day again.

It's reckoning time.

And no matter what happens, a Post-Gazette colleague and daily bus commuter wisely suggested, "The sun will come up tomorrow."