SPRINGIFLED, Mass. — Pioneer Valley Transit Authority employees will be planning a strike out this weekend after their union, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 448, rejected the PVTA's latest contract offer.

The labor union said in a statement sent to Spectrum News this week they're frustrated with the agency's lack of respect for their workers.

We spoke with Western Mass. residents at Union Station in Springfield on Friday who say they're very concerned about the possibility of not being to take the bus.

"I catch the bus two times a day coming into Springfield, then I use it around Springfield and then I go back to Westfield," said Westfield resident Oscar Moore. "They do that strike, that's gonna really hurt, man. I'm doing a lot of doctor's appointments and things nowadays. It's gonna be a killer, man."

"I'm worried about this strike with the buses," said Springfield resident Gilberto Valentin. "So I've bought two tickets, and I don't know if I'm going to lose my money or not. The thing is, we need the buses. We use it every day so I don't know what's going to happen."

Local 448 represents more than 225 PVTA employees, including bus operators, mechanics, supervisors and office workers. 

The labor union and PVTA have been in negotiations since March.

The union said some of the larger issues in the dispute involve wages and benefits.

On Aug. 11, the workers voted in favor of authorizing a strike if necessary.

"I don't pick sides with the dispute," said Springfield resident Devon Turcotte. "But all I know is that I rely on the transportation and I hope for the best possible outcome for either side."

We did reach out to the PVTA for their side of the issue, but we did not hear back as of Friday evening.

Bus riders we spoke with said losing access to the local transportation service would be devastating and hope the issue is resolved quickly.

"I'd have to walk everywhere," said Valentin. "I've got a car and the doctor said that I'm blind so I can't drive my car. I need the buses."

"We don't need a strike now, man," said Moore. "Work it out, work it out."