New Jersey Transit is the third largest provider of buses and rails in the US
NJ Transit has 253 bus routes, 12 railway lines and three light rail lines. It offers nearly 270 million passenger travel each year.
Woodland Park, N.J. — A New Jersey transit engineer left his job and halted the agency’s train services across the Garden State at 12:01am on May 16th, after agency officials resigned from the contract meeting.
New Jersey’s transit bus service remains open and statewide, with agents planning to increase bus capacity during strikes.
Mark Wallace, the national president of locomotive engineer and train brotherly love, confirmed his decision to strike. He said New Jersey transport officials had escaped from negotiations at 10pm on May 15th.
“This is at the feet of the NJ Transit,” said General Tom Haas, who represents the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
The New Jersey Transportation website said early May 16th that “a strike by locomotive engineers and locomotive engineers represented by the Brotherhood of Train (BLET) has now resulted in all NJ Transit Rail Services being suspended.”
The results follow a five-year standoff between New Jersey Transit and locomotive engineers for renewing a contract that expired on December 31, 2019.
The two sides are at odds over wages, and engineers say engineers should earn similar wages to what they make on Amtrak, Long Island Railroad and Metro North. They say New Jersey Transit could put other railroad engineers at risk.
The last stoppage was in 1983. This is because the agency took over control of the railway system and lasted for 34 days. In 2016, locomotive engineers were hours away from the suspension when they attacked an agreement with the agency and avoided a strike.
We’ll discuss it at the negotiation table
NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri said both sides spoke late on May 15th and were not away from the table. However, he said the structure of the transaction would cause similar increases so that other unions at the agency “I too” would cause clauses.
He said the National Mediation Committee is willing to talk to both sides to resume consultations.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he and Kolli were not surprised by the strike decision, but that he and Kolli were ready to resume consultations. He said both sides need to reach a final deal that is fair to engineers but affordable for New Jersey commuters and taxpayers as well.
Haas said the union proposed concessions to achieve cost savings through changing job rules and adjusting healthcare benefits, but New Jersey transport officials did not take it.
New Jersey Transportation Authority has offered the same salary increases that it agreed by other unions at the agency, and says that if they agree more for the engineers, they must provide it to other collective bargaining units. New Jersey’s transport officials said it was a cost, which would force a significant increase in fares, a rise in the state’s corporate business tax, or a dramatic cut in services.
Tensions have risen in the past few weeks after locomotive engineers overwhelmingly terminated their interim agreement in March. The two parties were summoned to Washington by the National Mediation Committee on May 12 to hear both sides about where negotiations were located.
Since then, both sides have been at the negotiation table trying to reach a solution.
Alternative New Jersey Transit Bus Options
New Jersey Transit’s statewide transportation network serves approximately 350,000 passengers a day. It is pushed beyond that limit to accommodate local commuters who rely on rail, bus and light rails.
If there are no 12 railway lines from the agency, starting May 19th, weekday customers will expand their bus service on routes that reflect several railway lines. Additionally, four parks and ride options are available during peak hours from Secaucus Junction, PNC Bank Arts Center, Hamilton Rail Station and Woodbridge Center.
Additional options include pass, amtrak, ferries and other private buses.
New Jersey Transit’s emergency response plan costs at least $4 million a day, but is expected to accommodate only around 20% of typical railroad riders. Agency officials encourage people who can work from home to do so.
If you are commuting during a strike and would like to share your experience, please email transport reporter Colleen Wilson at cwilson2@gannettnj.com. Include your name, town, routes you normally have, and contact information.
