Rail service on NJ Transit's train lines have been suspended as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) union has effectively gone on strike on Friday, starting at midnight. Workers are seeking higher wages in their negotiations with the agency.
The Morning Brief's Brad Smith reports more on the details.
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Service at the nation's third-largest commuter railroad, the New Jersey Transit, is suspended until further notice as locomotive engineers strike. The members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen walked out at midnight, marking the first strike at the agency for transit in over 40 years. The union saying in a statement, quote, after 15 hours of nonstop contract talks, no agreement on a wage increase was reached. Workers are pushing for their first raise since 2019, asking for an average yearly salary of $170,000. They estimate the current average to be $113,000. Meanwhile, New Jersey Transit calls the union's proposed wage unaffordable. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy worries that giving the union too much could endanger NJ Transit's financial health saying, quote, we must reach a final deal that is both fair to employees and at the same time affordable to New Jersey's commuters and taxpayers. The stoppage will impact about 350,000 commuters who work in New York City and New Jersey every day. New Jersey Transit encourages those who can to work from home and limit travel on the system to essential needs only.
