With a potential strike on the horizon, New Jersey Transit (NJT) locomotive engineers, represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), gathered in protest outside the railroad’s headquarters. The demonstration was joined by fellow Teamsters as the strike deadline approaches on Friday, May 16 at 12:01 a.m.
This possible action marks what could be the first strike at NJT since 1983, when a previous strike lasted over a month. Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien stated, “If anyone’s commute is disrupted because workers are forced to strike, it’s the fault of the executives who mismanage New Jersey Transit.” He criticized NJT for offering pay below industry standards and emphasized that negotiations have been ongoing for six years.
The dispute centers around 450 locomotive engineers who have not seen a pay increase since their contract became amendable in 2019. During this period, NJT has invested significantly in new headquarters facilities without addressing wage concerns. Mark Wallace, President of BLET, remarked, “NJT can afford to pay their locomotive engineers the industry standard. They spent nearly three times what that would cost on interior decorating for their fancy new offices.”
Failure to resolve these issues may lead to disruptions affecting over 170,000 daily commuters who depend on NJT services.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, founded in 1903, represents more than 1.3 million workers across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
