TRENTON – Amalgamated Transit Union chief Ray Greaves roamed the hallways of the Statehouse with his members, hoping to prevail on legislative leadership as time runs out on the state to hash a budget deal.

“My hope is that the senate president and speaker would persuade their caucuses to accept the governor’s compromise,” Greaves told InsiderNJ. “I cant understand the behavior of the senate president, who backed a millionaire’s tax five times. Why he isn’t he in agreement with himself? It’s  getting a little peculiar.”

Greaves has been with Governor Phil Murphy from the beginning.

“I thought the governor’s first proposal was reasonable, with the sales tax included,” said the labor leader – pictured above with CWA’s Hetty Rosenstein and POP’s Larry Hamm. “I think we’re really splitting hairs at this point and it’s really pissing off our membership.”

Asked if anyone in the Assembly caucus has been receptive to his message, he said no.

“Nobody has stepped out yet to be the champion of working families,” Greaves said. “We’re waiting for someone to break out.”