NJ Transit tells commuters to work from home during possible strike

NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – A possible strike of locomotive engineers could bring NJ Transit to a grinding halt in May, NJ Transit is warning. 

Amid failing contract negotiations, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers has threatened to go on strike on May 16. The strike would mean a complete suspension of NJ Transit rail service, including the Metro-North Railroad west of Hudson, according to NJ Transit.

Now, NJ Transit is creating a contingency plan, asking anyone who can work from home to stay off the trains starting on May 16. 

“NJ TRANSIT strongly encourages all those who can work from home to do so and limit traveling on the NJ TRANSIT system to essential purposes only,” a spokesperson for NJ Transit said. 

For commuters who can’t stay back, NJ Transit will add bus service to New York routes and open four park and ride bus locations. To see all alternative travel options in the event of a strike, click here. 

“While the NJ TRANSIT team is doing everything possible to provide alternative travel options in the event of a stoppage, our focus remains on preventing one altogether,” said NJ Transit President Kris Kolluri.

The engineers have said they don’t want to strike, but have no choice. They say they’re paid far less than their counterparts on the “other side of the Hudson River” for the same work. The union in March rejected a tentative contract with NJ Transit, according to the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.

Representatives of the engineers’ union said they are happy to negotiate “anytime, anywhere,” but need a fair deal.

“NJT’s refusal to pay engineers in a manner that fairly compensates us for the responsibility we bear, the way that other passenger railroads do, is what is forcing us to use the only tool we have in our toolbox to force NJT to treat us fairly,” a representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers said.