New Jersey Transit Employees Strike, Disrupting Commutes for 350,000
The New Jersey Transit workers’ strike that began at 00:01 on Friday has resulted in a complete halt of railway services in the state, potentially affecting up to 350,000 commuters. This marks the first major transportation strike in the state since 1983.
The strike was initiated by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), a union representing about 450 members of the New Jersey Transit personnel. According to the union, its members have not received a pay raise since October 2019 and have been seeking a new labor agreement.
Despite engaging in intensive negotiations lasting 15 hours on Thursday, the union and the transit authority failed to reach a consensus on salary adjustments before the deadline.
The union stated that despite the transit authority being “fully capable of covering the cost of pay raises,” the management abruptly left the negotiations at 10 p.m., prompting the strike.
Governor Phil Murphy and Executive Director Kris Kolluri of the New Jersey Transit expressed their support for reaching a “fair agreement” with the union but emphasized the need to balance fiscal responsibility to prevent a domino effect.
Kolluri pointed out that the contract structure proposed by the union could trigger other unions to demand similar salary increases, leading to a significant increase in overall staffing costs, posing a major financial risk to the organization.
He emphasized, “This is an achievable agreement; we just need to ensure it is financially sustainable.”
In response to the financial concerns raised by the transit authority, Mark Wallace, the national chairman of BLET, rebuked the agency for investing large sums in construction projects while refusing to compromise on pay raises for frontline workers.
Wallace highlighted that the New Jersey Transit plans to invest $500 million in constructing a new headquarters and allocate $53 million for interior renovations. Additionally, last year’s fare holiday policy, which allowed for a temporary period of free rides, resulted in a revenue loss of around $20 million.
“They have money for rooftop views and pet projects but not for frontline workers. Enough is enough. We will continue the strike until members receive just compensation,” Wallace stated.
The New Jersey Transit stated that the strike could affect up to 350,000 commuters daily, including roughly 70,000 passengers who commute to and from New York City on weekdays.
The transit authority has advised the public to work from home if possible and has provided additional bus services and parking lot shuttles to accommodate commuter traffic.
Since all NJ Transit train services have been suspended starting early Friday morning, the authorities have issued advanced warnings through their website, transfer stations, and electronic billboards, reminding passengers to conclude their journeys before 11:59 p.m. on the 15th.
Currently, Amtrak and PATH train services remain unaffected, but the transit authority urges passengers to minimize nonessential travel and to visit the official website (njtransit.com/railstoppage) for real-time information.
The New York City government has activated emergency measures in response to the strike.
Mayor Eric Adams stated that the city is closely monitoring the situation and will deploy shuttles to alleviate overcrowding issues.
He urged commuters to plan their journeys in advance and consider telecommuting. The NYC Emergency Management through social media stated that personnel have been stationed at “key transportation hubs and intersections” to provide real-time monitoring and response, tracking commuting conditions and traffic disruptions, emphasizing, “In the event of a railway strike, be prepared for congestion, delays, and difficulty in meeting the demand for alternative transportation.”
Although no agreement was reached before the deadline, Governor Murphy stated that there is a possibility of restarting negotiations. He mentioned that the next round of discussions could begin as early as Sunday morning.
Murphy emphasized, “We must reach a final agreement that is fair to the employees while also taking into consideration the capacity of New Jersey commuters and taxpayers.”