New Jersey Transit strike underway; some 350,000 commuters scramble for transportation
New Jersey Transit train engineers have initiated a strike, halting commuter trains and causing chaos for hundreds of thousands of commuters who now have to find alternative transportation options.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) union had been threatening to strike unless new contract terms and conditions were agreed upon between NJ Transit officials and the union. Despite coming close to a deal, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy confirmed that no agreement was reached, leading to the shutdown of all New Jersey Transit commuter trains and the MTA Metro-North West of Hudson service at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
Last-minute negotiations took place on Thursday in an attempt to prevent the strike, including a meeting in Washington, D.C. with the National Mediation Board on Monday, but no resolution was achieved.
During a press conference, Murphy and NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri advised commuters to work from home on Friday to alleviate the impact of the strike. Kolluri expressed optimism about reaching a deal and stated that negotiations would resume on Sunday morning.
BLET National President Mark Wallace highlighted that NJ Transit train engineers have not received a pay raise in five years, emphasizing the need for a fair agreement. Meanwhile, Tom Haas, the general chairman for BLET, revealed that engineers earn an average salary of $113,000 annually and proposed an average salary of $170,000 per year for operator engineers to reach a deal.
NJ Transit officials disputed the union’s claims, stating that accepting BLET’s terms would cost $1.363 billion between July 2025 and June 2030, with an additional $4 million per day for limited alternative bus services in case of a strike.
The strike is expected to impact over 350,000 commuters, with NJ Transit implementing a contingency plan that includes limited bus services and private carriers to accommodate affected passengers. However, the bus system can only cater to around 20% of current rail customers, leading to significant disruptions.
The strike is likely to cause traffic congestion in Manhattan, with increased bus and car traffic expected due to the absence of train services. Commuters will also face congestion pricing penalties when entering Manhattan.
Experts like Xuan Sharon Di from Columbia University and Steven Chien from the New Jersey Institute of Technology expressed concerns about the strike’s impact on transportation arteries and the daily lives of commuters. The strike is set to have far-reaching consequences for both commuters and the transportation system in the region.
