NJ Transit warns commuters to prepare as engineers' strike looms
NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- New Jersey Transit is bracing for a possible strike by train engineers, which would affect thousands of riders.
The unionized employees are preparing for a walkout on May 16 if they don't get a new contract with a significant pay raise.
The engineers, who rejected a previous offer from the rail service, haven't had a raise since 2019.
On Wednesday, the railroad outlines contingency plans if the worst-case scenario happens.
A strike could force hundreds of thousands of commuters to find a different way to get to work.
A contingency plan would only be able to help a fraction of the system's riders.
The head of NJ Transit says the company and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen had a deal but it was rejected by the Union membership.
"Their view in my humble opinion, is neither reasonable nor affordable," NJ Transit Chairman Kris Kolluri said.
New Jersey Transit says the union wants a salary of $190,000 a year.
The union says base pay is $89,000.
The head of the union says his 425 members are paid 20 percent less than other regional train engineers.
"We can step across the platform in New York and go to work for Amtrak and make $10 an hour more," said General Chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Tom Haas.
If the strike occurs, they will run extra park and ride bus service from Secaucus Junction, the PNC Arts Center on the Parkway, Woodbridge Center Mall and Hamilton Rail Station.
These pick-up and drop locations focus on getting workers into and out of New York City.
"For those folks who can afford to work from home, should the strike become a reality, we ask them to work from home," Kolluri said.
Passengers are being urged to buy daily passes through the month of may and will see signs with a bar code posted at stations so they can stay updated on the possibility of a strike.
New Jersey Transit did offer another contract during negotiations on Wednesday with the engineers; the union for those engineers says they'll make a counterproposal next week.
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