Intense contract talks continued Thursday between New Jersey Transit and locomotive engineers, with hours left to avert a rail strike. The transit agency warned its customers on social media “to complete their travels and arrive at their final destination no later than 11:59 PM tonight.”
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen picketed outside an NJ Transit Board meeting last night. Negotiators had spent more than six hours Wednesday, trying to resolve the wage dispute in talks that started on Monday involving the National Mediation Board in Washington.
“I was hopeful when we went down to Washington. I’m still hopeful right now that we’ll be able to get something done before the deadline,” said BLET NJT Chairman Tom Haas. Union leaders had reached a deal with NJ Transit earlier in April, but its members overwhelmingly rejected that offer, noting that NJ Transit engineers earn almost 20% less than counterparts at Amtrak, PATH and LIRR.
“We, the locomotive engineers of New Jersey Transit, are asking only for a fair and competitive wage, a wage that is closer to what locomotive engineers at every other railroad in our area already earn,” Haas told NJ Transit’s board.
“I am supremely optimistic as a person,” said NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri. “We reached a deal once before. And I think we can do it again as long as we remember this principle: It has to be fair for the employees, but also has to be fair for the taxpayers and the riders.”
According to NJ Transit, it can’t afford wage parity with New York locomotive drivers without raising fares or taxes.
Observers noted the tone from both sides is less acrimonious than it had been.
Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday he is hands-on, noting, “Kris Kolluri is our front guy, but he and I are talking literally constantly. I personally, we as a group here are deeply involved in this.”
If talks break down and the trains do stop, commuters can access ramped-up service via the PATH and aboard ferries — but they won’t cross-honor tickets. NJ Transit has arranged extra buses to run from park-and-ride locations at Hamilton Station, Woodbridge Center Mall, the PNC Bank Arts Center and Secaucus Junction — starting Monday, May 19. And riders can sign up for private charters like Boxcar.
“It’s a good work-from-home moment, if this seeps into the workday on Friday or early next week,” Murphy advised.
BLET is the last of 14 unions to settle with NJ Transit. The agency has expressed concerns that provisions in other union contracts could compel raises to match the engineers.
“Hopefully we can keep things calm and calm down and we can continue the cordial relationship we have at the bargaining table,” Hass said.
“I think if we can all focus on the task at hand, which is to get to a fair and an affordable agreement, I think we can avert a strike. And that is what I am trying to do, and I will tell you on balance, that’s what Tommy Haas is trying to do as well,” Kolluri said.
