NEWARK, N.J., January 21 — A non-binding decision announced this week by Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 252, assigned to the dispute between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and New Jersey Transit (NJT), sets the clock ticking for “self-help” where engineers are permitted under the rules of the Railway Labor Act to strike, or management can lock-out workers.
In its decision the PEB stated: “Despite concluding that NJT’s Final Offer is the “most reasonable offer” of the two presented to us for selection, we must candidly acknowledge that there are certain portions of the Carrier’s Final Offer that we do not believe provide a reasonable basis for the voluntary resolution of the Parties’ dispute.”
BLET has rejected the non-binding decision which now sets in motion a 60-day cooling-off period, mandated by the Railway Labor Act, ending at 12:01 am on March 22. On that date, a rail strike at NJT becomes permissible, unless blocked by President Trump.
“This month, there was a shakeup at New Jersey Transit where an incompetent and arrogant CEO stepped down and other managers were removed. We hope that the new guard, under the direction of NJ Transit President & CEO Kris Kolluri, will choose to avoid a disruption in service by meeting with the union and working out a fair agreement that will keep the trains moving,” said BLET National President Eddie Hall.
NJT is experiencing a surge in demand for train service, partially due to recently imposed congestion pricing for car travel to New York City.
“Trains don’t move without engineers,” said Tom Haas, who is the BLET General Chairman representing the union’s members at the New Jersey commuter railroad. “Right now, our folks can walk across the platform and get paid at the very least ten dollars more per hour at any of the other railroads we interact with.” Added Haas, “between people leaving for higher pay and retirements we’re heading for a serious shortage of engineers at NJT, unless we receive a fair settlement.”
Fed up by low pay, disrespectful treatment by managers and the railroad’s misplaced priorities that include spending a half-billion dollars for lavish office space, the 494 BLET members employed by NJT have unanimously voted to grant BLET’s National President Eddie Hall authority to call a strike when allowed.
The contract dispute has been in NMB-sponsored mediation for three years. NJT’s locomotive engineers have been seeking a new labor agreement since October 2019. NJT’s engineers are the lowest paid engineers working in commuter service in the nation.