NJ Transit, engineers union hold more talks in attempt to avert Friday strike
With a possible NJ Transit strike looming later this week, engineers protested in front of the agency's headquarters on Wednesday in Newark.
If the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and NJ Transit don't reach a new contract by 12:01 a.m. Friday, engineers could walk off the job. The union of around 460 engineers is at odds with the agency over pay raises, arguing competitors pay more and the cost of living has gone up.
"We've been in negotiations for five years, over five years. I mean, the more time goes by, the more of a challenge it is as, you know, obviously with inflation and things like that," BLET General Chairman Tom Haas said.
"Nobody cares what somebody else makes in a different system. The riders pay a fare and the businesses of New Jersey pay a tax. They wanna make sure the compensation, if you will, is calibrated to what their expectations are," NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said.
Kolluri said he'll sleep in the office Thursday night if he has to in order to hammer out a deal.
The sides held negotiations until 3 p.m. and Kolluri called the talks constructive.
"We don't want this to be the end result. We'll find out tomorrow how things go," Haas said.
The last time NJ Transit engineers went on strike was in 1983.
Detailed look at commuting alternatives
If necessary, NJ Transit has said it will start its contingency plan on Monday, but officials say it will only accommodate 20% of its 100,000 rail riders. The agency will have more buses and will cross-honor rail tickets and add four more park-and-rides, in Secaucus and Hamilton, and at the Woodbridge Center Mall and the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.
"Amtrak will still run. Ferry service is gonna double or increase its capacity. You've got our buses that are running on regular schedule. Our light rails are running on regular schedule," Kolluri said. "The fact that work from home is still an option for many is something that we hope that they take into consideration."
Riders can rely on Amtrak and the PATH, but those who ride the rails regularly say it won't be easy.
"It is going to be very, very crowded. Hopefully, the PATH doesn't have a hiccup. If the PATH has a hiccup, I think everyone is going to go sour," Newark resident Fred Derilus said.
Another commuter, named Derrick, said an Amtrak ticket costs more than an NJ Transit ticket.
"I was trying to get down to Trenton to get to Philadelphia and I don't know if it is going to work out because I got to be at work," Derrick said.
When asked what his alternative will be, Princeton resident Arjun Ramesh said, "Good question. I'll probably drive or take the bus."
Boxcar buses to add hundreds more seats
Boxcar, which partners with motor coach operators like Yankee to get suburban riders to Manhattan from six different New Jersey areas, is stepping in with more buses.
CEO Joe Colangelo says demand is up.
"This week, Boxcar doubled the size of our Bergen Bullet route. We added 500 daily seats to Bergen County. On Friday, we are adding 1,500 extra seats to our Friday schedule. On Monday, we are adding 2,000 extra seats to our existing schedule, and we'll be making a lot more announcements," Colangelo said.
Boxcar books seats online. Commuters also have the option of taking ferries into the city.
