Train engineers for NJ Transit launched a strike early Friday morning, bringing all commuter rail services across the state to a halt in a dispute over wages. The walkout, led by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), is expected to disrupt travel for nearly 350,000 daily riders.
Picket lines formed at 4 a.m. at key locations including NJ Transit headquarters, Penn Station in New York, and Atlantic City. The strike follows the union’s rejection of a proposed wage agreement that had been negotiated earlier this year.
“We did have a previous deal that we struck in March. At the time, we felt it was worth putting in front of the membership,” said BLET General Chairman Tom Haas during a Thursday night press conference. “But the union is a democracy, and the membership made clear that the proposal did not meet their needs on wages.”
Governor Phil Murphy addressed the strike Thursday evening, saying his administration has worked “around the clock” in recent weeks to avoid a disruption. “Our top priority has always been to provide reliable service while ensuring a fair deal for workers and remaining fiscally responsible to taxpayers,” he said.
NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri echoed those remarks, emphasizing the need for balance. “Any agreement must respect our engineers’ vital role while avoiding undue burden on our riders and New Jersey taxpayers,” Kolluri said.
Outside NJ Transit headquarters earlier in the week, engineers rallied with signs and chants demanding better compensation. “Millions have paid their dues — it’s time to pay the train crews,” demonstrators shouted.
Engineer Daniel Feyjoo, a 19-year veteran of the system, spoke passionately about the responsibilities engineers shoulder. “We move people. If we make a mistake, the consequences can be dire,” he said. “We’re proud of what we do, but we need to be able to feed our families.”
The strike has brought one of the nation’s largest commuter rail systems to a standstill, halting vital routes connecting New York City’s Penn Station with communities across northern New Jersey. A follow-up press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday as negotiations remain in flux.
