Hardworking Americans woke up to sour news: 350,000 commuters had to scramble for solutions after they were stranded due to a massive strike.
NJ Transit engineers walked off the job when management did not meet their demands for better wages.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen began their strike at 12:01 a.m. today.
The strike marks the first NJ Transit rail shutdown in over 40 years, bringing chaos to the Garden State’s transportation system.
Nearly 450 engineers are demanding pay increases because their salaries have been frozen since 2019.
In response, NJ Transit President Kris Kolluri has offered to raise average engineer salaries from $135,000 to $172,000.
“I think that the proposal that they have put forward is neither serious nor does it show a signal that they are willing to collaborate to get to a solution,” Kolluri stated.
“Maybe they know something that I don’t, but I’ll just say this: If they are playing a game of chicken with the lives of 350,000 riders, I think they are in for a rude surprise,” he added.
However, union leaders are demanding an average salary of $220,000, which would make them among the highest-paid public employees in the state.
The striking engineers set up picket lines at key locations, including Penn Station in NYC, Atlantic City Rail Terminal, and NJ Transit headquarters in Newark.
Meanwhile, Governor Phil Murphy and other officials are scrambling to implement contingency plans that can only accommodate about 20% of the stranded rail commuters.
Kolluri did not mince words when describing the union’s unreasonable demands.
The agency is concerned about setting a dangerous precedent for other unions. It argues that capitulating to these excessive demands would only encourage more workers to hold essential services hostage for compensation packages.
In turn, BLET National President Mark Wallace criticized NJ Transit’s spending on facility improvements.
“Our members at NJ Transit had the full support of our national union, as well as the Teamsters,” Wallace stated.
He added,
“NJ Transit has a half-billion dollars for a swanky new headquarters and $53 million for decorating the interior of that unnecessary building. They gave away $20 million in revenue during a fare holiday last year. They have money for penthouse views and pet projects, just not for their front-line workers. Enough is enough. We will stay out until our members receive the fair pay that they deserve.”
The company walked away from negotiations with time still on the clock, demonstrating their unwillingness to reach a compromise.
“We presented them the last proposal; they rejected it and walked away with two hours left on the clock,” said BLET general chairman Tom Haas.
While buses, Amtrak, and PATH trains continue to operate, these alternatives cannot fully replace the rail service capacity.
The strike has already caused significant disruptions beyond daily commuting, including the cancellation of train and bus services for Shakira concerts.
NJ Transit is encouraging commuters to work from home where possible and check their website for service updates.
