the state is bracing for what could be the first rail strike here in decades New Jersey Transit leadership and the heads of the AY's locomotive engineers union are locked in tense negotiations as they try to reach a deal on contracts and salary increases for members before a midnight deadline tonight Otherwise the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen say they're prepared to walk off the job leaving some 100,000 daily train riders stranded and another roughly 250,000 commuters who use NJT's light rails and buses affected in some shape or form New Jersey Transit today pushed a critical service advisory to customers urging them to get to their destinations no later than midnight The agency has also told anyone going to the Shakira concert at Metife tonight or Friday to find alternate travel plans Senior correspondent Brenda Flanigan has the latest The trains kept rolling today as contract talks continued over wage disputes with NJ Transit engineers Their union posted a countdown towards the midnight deadline while nervous rail riders rushed to beat the clock With just hours left to avert a strike the transit agency warned its customers on social media to complete their travels and arrive at their final destination no later than 11:59 p.m tonight Online responses ranged from praying you guys come to an agreement to make a deal already to pay those people Wages remained the sticking point It's time to train the train Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen picketed outside an NJ Transit board meeting last night Negotiators had spent more than six hours Wednesday trying to resolve the wage dispute and talks that started on Monday involving the National Mediation Board in Washington The BLT's Tom Hos explained "I was hopeful when we went down to Washington I'm still hopeful right now that that we'll be able to get something done before the deadline."

Union leaders had reached a deal with NJ Transit earlier in April but its members overwhelmingly rejected that offer They're pushing for more pointing out engineers here earn almost 20% less than counterparts at Amtrak PATH and LIRR We the locomotive engineers of New Jersey Transit are asking only for a fair and competitive wage a wage that is closer to what locomotive engineers at every other railroad in our area already earn I I'm supremely optimistic as a person We reached a deal once before and I think we can do it again as long as we remember this principle It has to be fair for the employees but also has to be fair for the taxpayers and the writers NJ Transit says it can't afford wage parody with New York without raising fairs or taxes But observers noted the tone from both sides has sounded somewhat less acrimonious Meanwhile this scenario looks a lot like events leading up to 2016's 11th hour agreement between engineers and NJ Transit Contract talks that heavily involved Governor Christie Good news on many levels First we avert a strike and the damage it would do to our economy Governor Murphy yesterday said he's also hands-on Chris Calori is our front guy but he and I are talking literally constantly I personally we as a group here are deeply involved in this If talks break down and the trains do stop commuters can access ramped up service via the path and onboard fairies but they won't cross honor tickets NG Transits arranged extra buses running from four parking rides at Hamilton Station Woodbridge Center Mall the PNC Bank Arts Center and Sakus Junction starting Monday And riders can sign up for private charters like Boxc Car Murphy advised it's a good work from home moment uh if this seeps into the workday on Friday or early next week BLT is the last of some 14 unions to settle with NJ Transit The agencies expressed concerns that so-called meto provisions and other union contracts could compel raises to match the engineers Talks are complicated and also involve retroactive pay Hopefully uh you know we can keep things calm and and and calm down and we can continue the the the cordial relationship we have at the bargaining table I think if we can all focus on the task at hand which is to get to a fair and a affordable agreement I think we can avert a strike and and that is what I am trying to do and I will tell you uh on balance that's what Tommy Hos is trying to do as well Governor Murphy's office has promised an update this evening I'm Brenda Flanigan NJ Spotlight News