'It's completely doable': NJ Transit strike continues as deal again falls through

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) — There is still no deal to resolve the NJ Transit strike despite more than three hours of negotiations on Saturday afternoon.

It is the first time both sides have met since Thursday evening, when a deal could not be reached and locomotive engineers walked off the job. New Jersey Transit trains stopped running at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

Tom Haas, the General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, told PIX11 News said of Saturday afternoon, "It was a constructive discussion, its a very cordial atmosphere, I'm hopefully that we're close." Haas then added, "I do feel hopeful going into tomorrow that we may be able to get something resolved."

NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri issued a statement Saturday evening saying, "Today's discussions continued to be constructive. We've mutually agreed to adjourn formal discussions for the day, but will continue talking and look forward to resuming discussions tomorrow."

Before the negotiations wrapped up on Saturday, David Estes with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen told PIX11 News, "We understand that the commuters and the riders deserve to have the trains operating, but we deserve fair pay and that's what we're looking for."

Kolluri stated Saturday morning, "We want a fair deal that will not break the bank. That is our principle. We are not moving from that."

Estes said their wage demands would not break the bank, adding, "It's completely doable."

Ahead of the strike, NJ Transit announced contingency plans that included increased bus service and additional alternatives on PATH, Amtrak, and Metro-North trains.

Transit and union leaders have a prescheduled meeting Sunday afternoon with the National Mediation Board.