$$4GA0326FAREHIKEMURRAY

A union representing NJ Transit train engineers voted unanimously to strike next week unless an advisory panel is formed by President Obama, (File photo)

(Murray, Noah K.)

NEWARK -- The union representing NJ Transit train engineers voted unanimously Wednesday to strike if the federal government fails to create a panel to help resolve a long-simmering contract dispute, union officials confirmed.

A spokeswoman for NJ Transit, Nancy Snyder, declined to comment, citing the ongoing negotiations.

RELATED: Creation of panel would avert strike, unions say

The strike, or a lockout, could commence July 16, but a union official reached Wednesday said the membership has no desire to walk off the job and is hopeful the dispute can be resolved before then.

"Let me be clear on this: the unions are not looking to strike," said David Decker, chairman of the general committee of the of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. "We're looking to have an amicable agreement. This is just an action to comply with the bylaws should all other avenues break down."

Four hundred ballots were sent to the membership last month, and a vote in favor of a strike was unanimous among those who participated, which was described by the national BLET as a "rare" move.

"The 100 percent majority voting in favor of a strike sends a strong, unified message to New Jersey Transit that over four years without a contract is not acceptable to our membership," Dennis Pierce, national president of the Cleveland-based union, said in a statement.

Last month, contract negotiations between the 17 unions representing NJ Transit railroad workers and the agency broke down when the National Mediation Board ended the process. The railway unions have been in negotiations since 2011, while unions representing police and bus workers have been in talks since 2010. None of the 9,500 unionized NJ Transit workers have a contract, although only railroad workers would strike.

Decker and other union officials now want the Obama administration to form a Presidential Emergency Board. The creation of such a board, which would make non-binding recommendations, would be enough to forestall a strike for the immediate future, union officials have said. With the creation of the PEB, two 120-day "cooling off" periods would take effect, intervals when the unions could not strike and NJ Transit could not lock out employees.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.