This morning, 450 locomotive engineers at New Jersey Transit (NJT) initiated a strike, marking the first such action at the railroad since 1983. The engineers are represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) of the Teamsters Rail Conference.
Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien criticized NJT’s management, stating, “Railroad executives had every opportunity to reach a fair deal, but these fucking clowns chose to waste money on decorating their lavish penthouse offices. New Jersey Transit could have avoided this strike, but they blew it.” He emphasized that “Rail Teamsters are the best in the business and deserve better than to be low-balled and disrespected.”
The dispute centers around contract negotiations, with management allegedly refusing to offer terms that meet industry standards. NJT locomotive engineers have not received a raise since their contract became amendable in 2019. During this period, NJT reportedly spent half-a-billion dollars on a new headquarters.
Mark Wallace, President of the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference, commented on the situation: “This strike could be over in an instant if NJT offers a fair contract. Our members at NJT only want to be paid the same as engineers who work for other commuter railroads that share the same train platforms. NJT can afford it. We will hold the line for as long as it takes.”
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in 1903 and represents over 1.3 million workers across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
