Discussions aimed at resolving a strike between train engineers and New Jersey’s major commuter railroads will continue on Saturday and extend into Sunday, as reported by New Jersey Transit CEO Chriskoruli.
The locomotive engineer strike commenced on Friday, impacting the railway system and affecting 350,000 daily riders who are working from home or exploring alternative travel options statewide or across the Hudson River to New York City.
During a press conference at Newark’s Broad Street Station on Saturday, Kolluri mentioned that the agency is ramping up bus services to assist commuters. However, he cautioned that the buses would not be able to accommodate the entire commuter rail demand.
Kolluri stated that he, along with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Train President Mark Wallace, agreed to reconvene on Saturday. It remains uncertain if both parties will meet before the scheduled National Mediation Committee session on Sunday.
Later on Saturday afternoon, Kolluri released a statement indicating that the meeting was productive and that the discussions had concluded for the day.
“Today’s discussions proved to be constructive. We mutually decided to adjourn the formal discussions for the day, but we are eager to continue talks and reopen discussions tomorrow,” Kolluri said.
Wallace expressed his desire for an agreement upon the resumption of negotiations that had paused just before the strike on Thursday night.
“If we collaborate, we can come to an agreement,” Wallace remarked.
The New Jersey Transit operates a train yard just across the Delaware River from Trenton, a suburban area near Morrisville. “United We Bargain We Beg,” a picketer in a red shirt carried a sign not too far from the rally on Saturday, denouncing the current situation.
Bill Craven, an engineer with 25 years of experience, explained the sentiment among the union members. He noted that they usually don’t have face-to-face interactions while passing each other on the tracks at high speeds.
“Most of us would prefer to drive trains; that’s how we earn our living. We don’t wish to disrupt our lives or others’, but we haven’t received a raise in six years,” he shared.
The strike follows a failed negotiation attempt on Thursday, marking the first state transport strike in over four decades, occurring a month after union members largely rejected labor agreements with management.
On Friday, Wallace joined the Picket Line outside Penn Station in New York City. He reiterated that the engineers are committed to their strike until they secure fair agreements. Members overwhelmingly supported the strike last summer, with 87% rejecting the recent contract.
Wallace emphasized the need for engineers’ wages to be competitive with those offered by Amtrak and Long Island Railroads, as many are leaving for better-paying positions at other railroads.
The union is seeing a steady decline in its ranks at NJ Transit, as more members resign for better-paying jobs elsewhere. The number of NJ Transit Engineers has decreased from 500 a few months ago to about 400. These engineers are vital for ensuring safe and seamless transport between stations.
“It is crucial to achieve a fair final agreement for employees that is also manageable for New Jersey commuters and taxpayers,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Friday.
NJ Transit is the third-largest transportation system in the U.S., operating buses and trains across the state and facilitating nearly 1 million weekday trips, including to New York City. The strike has halted all NJ Transit commuter trains, which serve as a key transport route between Penn Station, one side of the Hudson River, and communities in northern New Jersey. Meanwhile, Newark Airport has been facing unrelated delays of its own recently.
Source: apnews.com