HONOLULU -- Honolulu bus drivers will begin taking a strike authorization vote starting today.

About 240,000 people ride the bus each day and some KITV 4 News talked with said a strike would be a big inconvenience.

The last time city bus drivers went on strike was 32 years ago in 1971. Since then, there have been times when contract negotiations have been rocky.

About 1,400 city bus drivers, mechanics and others will decide on Monday and Tuesday whether or not to give their union, the Teamsters, authorization to call a strike. The union recently told members it wants to maintain current medical coverage and it wants to seen an increase in the pension contribution.

"Our focus and our goal is to try and reach a $4.25 pension contribution at the end of the third year," Teamsters leader Mel Kahele said. "We get a $4.25 pension contribution at the end of the third year, we're looking at the majority of us being able to retire comfortably."

The company that runs the bus for the city, Oahu Transit Services, said its budget was cut and costs are going up. Company officials went so far as to say layoffs are a possibility.

Wei-Yuan Chen regularly takes the bus to Chinatown. He said a strike would disrupt his routine.

"Yes it could be inconvenient. Sometimes I ride the bus four or five times a day," Chen said.

Bus drivers KITV 4 News spoke with declined comment on a possible strike.

OTS officials said it's too early to comment on contingency plans. They want to wait to see the outcome of the strike vote.