In the Metro union's most recent newsletter, Amalgamated Transit Union 587 executive board officer Clint DeVoss accuses the King County Council of being "hell bent on wrecking the [contract] negotiations before they start" and strongly suggests that the negotiations will go to arbitration if the council continues to insist on wage and other concessions from the union, which represents 4,000 bus drivers and other Metro employees. "The Council’s political perspective is relevant to the extent that they can make negotiations difficult and drive ATU from the negotiating table to the arbitration table," DeVoss writes.

The Metro union's contract is up for renewal this year.

Earlier this month, a union representing 500 county employees agreed to forgo their regular cost-of-living pay increase next year. King County Executive Dow Constantine has said "everything is on the table" in the Metro union negotiations, including wages and employees' share of benefits. The union has asked for a mediator to join the negotiations in October if the county and union can't agree on contract terms.