Newark, New Jersey: A tentative agreement has been reached between leaders of unions that represent NJ Transit rail workers and the agency.
The agreement will prevent a strike that could have started on Sunday morning, affecting over 100,000 rail commuters in 15 New Jersey counties, three New York counties, and one Pennsylvania county. Union officials held a press conference at approximately 7:00pm on Friday at the Hilton Newark Penn Station Hotel in Newark's East Ward to make the announcement.
"You can all smile now", Stephen Burkert of the SMART-TD - Local 60 union, which represents conductors, told attendees.
The strike would have been the first for NJ Transit Rail Operations since 1983. Several North Jersey municipalities were planning to operate buses to New York, transportation hubs like the Irvington Bus Terminal, and to Newark Light Rail stations if an agreement was not reached.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie held a press conference regarding the agreement shortly following the announcement at the NJ Transit headquarters on Raymond Boulevard in Newark.
This story will be updated.
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