PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A scheduled strike at the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority has been delayed.

 

BRTA Administrator Robert Malnati issued a notice on Monday saying the paratransit operators have delayed a striked scheduled to begin on Monday, Feb. 19. A federal mediator will be meeting with BRTA on Feb. 21 to further discuss the situation and has asked the union workers to delay their strike.

 

Drivers for Paratransit Management of the Berkshires voted down the best and final offer during contract negotiations and voted on Feb. 6 to strike. The 18 workers are represented by International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 404.

 

The BRTA, which oversees Paratransit, was informed of the vote last week.

 

The strike would impact all aspects of the BRTA. The fixed route operators, mechanics, and maintenance staff would not be able to cross picket lines, according to Malnati.

 

The Intermodal Center would remain open during a strike and Peter Pan, Greyhound, and Amtrak will still stop in Pittsfield. 

 

The BRTA has an annual ridership of more than 600,000, with close to 80,000 of those through the paratransit service that supplements the fixed bus service for those with impaired mobility.