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New Jersey Transit is facing a potential strike by train engineers, which could disrupt the commutes of 350,000 people starting Friday (May 16). The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has set a deadline of 12:01 a.m. Friday to reach a new contract agreement with NJ Transit. If no deal is reached, all NJ Transit commuter trains and the MTA Metro-North West of Hudson service will cease operations.
The dispute centers on wages, with BLET demanding an average salary increase from $113,000 to $170,000 for engineers. NJ Transit claims that engineers already earn an average of $135,000, with top earners exceeding $200,000. NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri expressed concern over the financial implications, stating, "I cannot keep giving money left and right to solve a problem. It all comes down to, who is going to pay for this? Money does not grow on trees" (ABC News).
Negotiations are ongoing, with both parties meeting with the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C. However, the potential strike could cost New Jersey taxpayers $4 million per day to provide limited alternative bus services, which would only cover about 20% of current rail customers. NJ Transit has already canceled train and bus services to events like the Shakira concerts at MetLife Stadium due to the looming strike.
Transportation experts warn that the strike could lead to increased traffic congestion in Manhattan, as commuters turn to buses and cars. Xuan Sharon Di, an associate professor at Columbia University, described the potential strike as a "disaster" for traffic in the city (6ABC).