We're just one week away from a potential locomotive engineers strike that would bring NJ Transit trains to a halt.

Their deadline for a new contract is 12:01 a.m. Friday May 16.

The National Mediation Board has called on NJ Transit officials and members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen for a public interest meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss the status of the contract negotiations. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 12.

"I welcome the National Mediation Board's invitation to resume mediation in Washington on Monday, May 12. I have always said we should avoid a strike and not disrupt the lives of 350,000 riders," said NJ Transit President & CEO Kris Kolluri in a statement about the invitation.

The union representing the locomotive engineers held a news conference late this morning and addressed a variety of issues, including the National Mediation Board's invitation to resume talks on Monday in Washington.

Union leaders said NJ Transit doesn't know its own books, adding it identifies the union in different groups of its payroll system.

Tom Haas, the union general chairman, went as far as saying he'd sign the deal now if NJ Transit is indeed offering $170,000 a year average salary for engineers beginning in 2027, which has been rumored.