A festering labor dispute that goes back more than a year is poised to provoke the first strike in the 64-year history of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Management and union officials met yesterday for the first time since Aug. 17. But the bargaining session, at a hotel across from turnpike headquarters near Harrisburg, ended at 3:38 p.m. when the union delegation walked out.

Turnpike Chief Executive Officer Joseph Brimmeier said union officials also refused to give advance notice if they decide to strike.

The unions have already printed and distributed picket signs. A joint statement to members said:

"All members of both Locals should now prepare for the possibility that if we do not have an agreement, alternative measures may be invoked at the conclusion of [yesterday's] meeting."

A strike would affect car and truck drivers accounting for about 500,000 trips and $1.4 million in toll revenues a day.

Turnpike officials have been training managers to keep the 531-mile system open in the event of a strike. Personnel who work mostly in the office have been assigned to work a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. "A" shift or a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. "B" shift, seven days a week, either collecting tolls or handling minimal maintenance duties like emptying trash, removing debris and picking up dead deer.

In addition, officials have a plan to cut losses by charging temporary flat tolls of $2 for passenger cars and $15 for commercial vehicles, regardless of distance traveled. The machines that issue tickets at mainline toll plaza entry booths would be turned off.

The accounts of E-ZPass customers with tolls less than $2 would be charged the actual toll. For example, Irwin to Monroeville would be $2 for cash-paying customers but 75 cents for those with E-ZPass.

If too much traffic backs up and becomes a safety issue at toll plazas, especially at rush hours in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, drivers are to be waved through, toll-free, until the backlog clears.

"We must be prepared for the possibility of a work stoppage," Brimmeier said. "We are absolutely committed to serving our customers and maintaining a high level of safety and service on the road."

Turnpike officials acknowledged that problems are not likely to go over well with users socked by an average 42.5 percent toll increase on Aug. 1. Although the higher tolls are expected to generate $100 million a year in extra revenue, Brimmeier has pledged "not one penny" would be spent on anything but highway improvements.

Teamsters officials issued no public statements. They could not be contacted because they were involved in negotiations.

The last contract expired Sept. 30, 2003.

In July, union members overwhelmingly rejected a contract that would have raised wages by 40 cents an hour for each of the next three years.

The vote against the deal was 1,340 to 70, but it was not all about wages. Members, who currently are paid more than $18 an hour, also opposed changes in health care, prescription insurance, job security and maintenance practices.

Brimmeier said turnpike officials "sweetened the deal" by offering union employees the same health-care package as management, an item sought by Teamsters leaders in earlier talks.

"I thought that would get us beyond an impasse," Brimmeier said.

Turnpike spokesman Bill Capone said the turnpike is concerned about the union not giving much advance notice if it decides to strike the nation's first modern superhighway, the first 160 miles of which opened in 1940.

"We hoping nothing happens but we have to be prepared if it does," he said.

Management employees who will be assigned to toll booths have been attending two-hour training sessions.

They also took home books to study about such things as recognizing the classes of vehicles that use the toll road and dealing with customer complaints.

In addition to Locals 250 and 77, the turnpike also has an expired contract with Local 30, which represents about 200 central office staff, including clerical and treasury department employees. Usually, that bargaining unit settles along the same terms as its larger affiliate.

The top rate for full-time permanent toll collectors is $18.50 an hour, while maintenance workers make $18.72 an hour.

Almost everyone collects some overtime; W-2 forms of the top two maintenance employees showed they grossed $99,757 and $99,578 last year.

Union employees and non-represented turnpike workers also enjoy a lucrative benefits package that includes health, dental, vision and prescription drug insurance; 15 paid holidays; 10 sick days a year; four weeks of vacation after 16 years of service; and participation in the state retirement program.