NJ Transit Rail System goes on Strike

Union Engineers for New Jersey Transit, the nation’s third largest commuter rail system announced a strike over wages at midnight on Friday, May 16. All rail service has been shut down, with a patchwork of rush hour shuttle buses services not prepared to be offered until Monday. The Union claims their members haven’t had a pay increase since 2019, and that engineers across the river in NY get high wages from the MTA. Management says that pay equity isn’t appropriate because the cost of living is lower in NJ.

Public transit strikes are always challenging because the public, rather than the agency, bears the brunt of the strike, and because many people look upon the Union employees as already well-paid (currently $137-$175 K) in comparison to themselves, so sympathy is harder to build.

The Union is holding a Press Conference at 9 AM. Governor Murphy and NJT officials are holding a Press Conference at 10 AM.

(nb: a Friday strike is a standard tactic for transit Unions; it allows some pain to be felt while providing the weekend for subsequent negotiations)