In an unprecedented move, New Jersey Transit’s train engineers laid down their tools this Friday, leaving an estimated 350,000 commuters in New York City and New Jersey scrambling for alternatives to reach their respective destinations. This labor action marks the first transit strike in the state in over four decades, throwing daily commute schedules into disarray.
The labor action followed a round of unsuccessful negotiations that took place on Thursday. Reports indicate that union members had unanimously rejected a labor agreement with management, leading to the strike. “We presented them the last proposal; they rejected it and walked away with two hours left on the clock,” was the account given by Tom Haas, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
With negotiations at a standstill, the strike has halted all NJ Transit commuter trains, disrupting heavily frequented public transit routes between New York City’s Penn Station and communities in northern New Jersey, as well as the Newark airport. This has left commuters and regular transit users with very limited options and capacity, as contingency plans involving additional bus services and private carriers are yet to be fully operational.
The striking workers, represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, are demanding wages comparable to other passenger railroads in the area. According to reliable sources, the union claims its members earn an average salary of $113,000 a year and believes an agreement could be reached if NJ Transit’s CEO, Kris Kolluri, agrees to an average yearly salary of $170,000. NJ Transit leadership, however, disputes these figures, stating that the engineers have average total earnings of $135,000 annually.
This raises important questions about the sustainability of such wage demands in light of NJ Transit’s fiscal realities. Both Kolluri and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy have indicated that the issue at hand isn’t primarily about agreeing to a wage increase, but ensuring such an agreement does not trigger similar demands from other unions, thereby creating a financially untenable situation for NJ Transit.
The significance of this should not be overlooked. As negotiations remain in progress, with a suggested Sunday morning meeting by the mediation board, the strike’s impact is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Amid this uncertainty, the public’s right to accurate information and the importance of staying informed cannot be overstated.
