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The union representing striking bus drivers and the operating company both expressed optimism Friday that they would be able to reach an agreement to end the strike that started Thursday. KJZZ’s Steve Shadley has been out and about, talking to people affected by the strike. He spoke with frustrated passengers.

This is the second time Valley bus drivers have gone on strike in less than two years. Last March, drivers working for Veolia Transportation Services walked off the job for a few days, affecting routes in Phoenix and Tempe.

As the sides try to work towards a deal to end this strike, we reached out to Michael Belzer. He is an associate professor of economics at Wayne State University in Detroit and specializes in issues related to the transportation industry. He said strikes can still have an impact, even in states that are not traditionally strong union ones.

So what is going on behind closed doors as the sides work towards a deal? Art Hinshaw, director of the Lodestar Mediation Clinic at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law has an idea.