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New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) train riders face potential disruptions as engineers threaten to strike next Friday (May 16). The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), representing 372 engineers, remains in a contract dispute with NJ Transit over salary demands. The union's latest proposal seeks an average salary increase to $225,000, up from the previously rejected $172,000 offer, which NJ Transit claims is unaffordable and would burden taxpayers and commuters.
NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri stated that the union's demands are unreasonable and could lead to fare increases or reduced services. He emphasized the financial implications, noting the proposed salary hike would cost $1.363 billion over five years. Kolluri urged the union to reconsider its stance, warning that a strike would severely impact over 350,000 daily commuters and the regional economy.
In response to the potential strike, NJ Transit has developed a contingency plan to accommodate a limited number of rail customers. The plan includes expanding bus services with private carriers and increasing capacity on existing New York commuter bus routes. However, this plan will only cover about 20% of rail riders, leading NJ Transit to advise commuters to work from home if possible.
Both sides express a commitment to reaching an agreement before the strike date. The last major NJ Transit rail strike occurred in 1983, with a previous negotiation in 2016 resolved just hours before the deadline. As the situation unfolds, NJ Transit continues to update its website with the latest information on the potential strike and contingency measures.