Members of the railroad engineers union for New Jersey Transit went on strike at midnight Friday, impacting approximately 350,000 daily commuters. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, representing around 450 workers, initiated the strike over unresolved pay disputes, claiming members are the lowest-paid locomotive engineers among major passenger railroads in the U.S. The union has been without a pay raise for six years and has been seeking a new contract since October 2019.
Just before the strike began, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Transit President & CEO Kris Kolluri expressed their desire for a fair agreement but highlighted the difficulty in accommodating demands that might incite other unions to seek similar preferential deals, which they stated could result in significant financial implications for New Jersey Transit. Murphy emphasized the agency’s challenging financial situation.
The union accused New Jersey Transit of misallocating funds, pointing to their investment in a new headquarters and a recent fare holiday costing millions, arguing that these expenses undermined their claims of insufficient funds for fair wages. BLET National President Mark Wallace proclaimed, “Enough is enough,” pledging to continue the strike until workers receive proper compensation.
New Jersey Transit has implemented measures to reduce disruption, advising commuters to work from home if possible. Additional bus services and expanded park-and-ride options have been arranged, and other transit systems like Amtrak and PATH remain operational. The strike marks the first labor stoppage at New Jersey Transit in over 40 years, drawing significant public attention and concern due to the scale of its impact.
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