The clock is ticking towards a possible NJ TRANSIT strike on Sunday, as contract negotiations between the organization and its unions are set to resume this morning.
The strike deadline is midnight Saturday, March 12. If the strike happens, NJ TRANSIT plans to gradually scale down service starting on Sunday.
Thursday afternoon, NJ TRANSIT negotiator Gary Dellaverson said no announcement of a deal was imminent.
“If there’s a shutdown, it will be terrible. It will be very inconvenient,” said NJ TRANSIT negotiator Gary Dellaverson said Thursday morning. “The discussions between us and the unions have continued, there’s nothing of value to report.”
RESOURCE FOR COMMUTERS: How To Get Around If NJ TRANSIT Shuts Down
After a day off from talks, leaders representing the 11 rail unions met with NJ TRANSIT officials face to face at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Newark for another round of talks.
“I don’t have anything very exciting to say,” Dellaverson said. “What we did this morning, for the last few hours, has been to continue to be precise with one another… as to the areas where there still remain differences between us.”
As talks commenced around 10 a.m., both sides expressed a desire to come to an agreement to avoid a potential strike.
“Whether it’s a today issue or a tonight issue or a Sunday morning issue, that’s just a game I don’t want to play,” Dellaverson said.
Rail union spokesperson Steve Burkert remained cautiously optimistic.
“We’re always hopeful that’s why we’re sitting, talking,” he said.
Dellaverson stressed the importance of keeping the discussions cordial.
“When you feel pressured, bad things happen,” Dellaverson said. “So I think trying to avoid that within reasonable measure is one of the things that we’re trying to do.”
Union Built PC and many of our team members are based in NY Metro. We have seen commuter-impacted strikes before and it is no laughing matter. We want to encourage you to plan ahead. If you’re a commuter who may be impacted by the strike click here for resources to navigate the NJ Transit strike.