Trying times for NJ Transit — its leadership in transition, union contracts in negotiation and 900,000 riders a day paying more for less. And tonight’s their turn to sound off. NJTV News Correspondent David Cruz was at NJ Transit headquarters when he spoke with Anchor Mary Alice Williams.
Williams: David, only one evening meeting all year?
Cruz: Yeah, good evening Mary Alice. There used to be two. Last year the board voted to cut that in half. That’s just one of the many complaints that you will hear from commuter advocates. You know, this is a $3 billion agency and as you said, 900,000 rides a day provided and folks are here to express their dissatisfaction with any number of things, not the least of which was last year’s 9 percent fare increase and service cuts and the expectation that there will be more of same next year. This is also an organization that is leaderless. They have an acting executive director. Ronnie Hakim who was here before the current executive director was only here for a year and a half. So there’s some instability there as well. And as you said, there are two of the unions — I think there are nine total — who voted against the recent contract. NJ Transit says they are in negotiations right now.
Williams: Should commuters be concerned about a strike?
Cruz: NJ Transit says no. The fact that they’re actually talking now is a good sign. Until the last few days, they weren’t talking, [in March] when they almost went on strike. So this is a good sign. It’s not a good sign that they rejected the contract, but it’s a good sign that they’re at least talking.
Williams: This isn’t your first rodeo. What are these meetings like?
Cruz: You know, to come to these meetings you really have to be patient. They can go into closed session frequently and you’ve got to sit there and look at a lot of people who will look back at you stone faced, especially when you’re passionate about your issues. So it’s a little tough on commuters, but you have to have a lot of patience.
Williams: OK David Cruz. Thank you.