NJ Transit train drivers could strike as early as July 25
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NJ Transit Fare Increase: What You Need to Know About the July 1 Fare Increase
The NJ Transit Board of Directors unanimously approved a fare increase of 15% effective July 1 and 3% each year thereafter.
NJ Transit train drivers could go on strike as early as July 25 after a federal committee ended mediation between the public transit agency and the union that represents its train drivers and conductors.
The National Mediation Board announced Tuesday that it has cleared collective bargaining between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and NJ Transit, beginning a 30-day “cooling-off period” after which the union can strike if the two sides remain at an impasse.
Unless a voluntary agreement is reached or President Joe Biden appoints a “Presidential Emergency Board,” either the union or NJ Transit could exercise “self-help” beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 25. At that point, the union would be free to strike or face a lockout by the agency.
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The union has been seeking a new contract for its train drivers since October 2019. Eddie Hall, the union’s national president, called for a solution after Tuesday’s announcement, accusing NJ Transit of failing to offer competitive wages despite investments in “spacious new office space” and plans to increase fares by 15% starting July 1.
“This labor dispute has dragged on for far too long,” Hall said. “It’s time for NJ Transit to make a fair offer and voluntarily resolve this dispute, or our members will picket and stop running trains.”
Jim Smith, NJ Transit’s communications director, said the agency was “extremely disappointed” with the mediation committee’s decision but assured customers there would be no service disruptions.
More: NJ Transit train drivers approve strike almost unanimously
“This is an unprecedented action that overturns nearly 100 years of previous rail collective bargaining practices,” Smith said. “NJ Transit has put forward a fair and just wage offer that has been accepted and ratified by 14 of our 15 rail unions, covering 91% of our rail union employees.”
The engineers’ union rejected an offer of mediation last week, paving the way for a possible strike in 30 days.
“Our members are angry and feel betrayed,” Hall said. “Engine drivers have kept the trains running during the pandemic. They have not received a raise for five years during a period of high inflation. These men and women want to provide uninterrupted service to the public, but they cannot continue to work for substandard wages. They have had enough.”
Smith said NJ Transit has and will continue to conduct negotiations in which all of the company’s customers are represented.
“We remain firmly committed to reaching an amicable solution to these contract negotiations,” he said.
If Biden convenes a Presidential Emergency Board before the cooling-off period ends, the strike would be postponed while the board collects data and prepares a report. The board can be created at the request of the National Mediation Board, the union, NJ Transit or Gov. Phil Murphy.
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