BLET members at NJT have protested publicly numerous times against management’s misplaced priorities. They have been seeking a new labor agreement since October 2019.
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On December 9, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced the resignation of NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett. An article from Trains.com mentions the commuter railroad’s “significant operational issues” and noted its “combative negotiations” with the BLET, which could result in a strike as early as March 22, 2025.
Corbett’s tenure as CEO will be remembered by BLET members as one of misplaced priorities. Corbett spent $440 million for luxury office space to house NJT’s executive headquarters while stonewalling BLET at the bargaining table. The decision led NJT engineers to coin the slogan, “Millions for penthouse views, but not a dime for train crews.”
While Corbett jumps ship, the BLET continues to fight for its members. NJT’s engineers have been seeking a new labor agreement since October 2019. They voted unanimously to authorize a strike at NJT if a settlement is not reached under the Railway Labor Act.
The contract dispute is currently in front of a second Presidential Emergency Board. Under consideration to replace Corbett is Kris Kolluri, a former NJ Department of Transportation commissioner and Gateway Tunnel CEO.