So, like, there’s this whole thing going down in New Jersey, where over 350,000 people could be left hanging without a way to get around on Friday. Apparently, the engineers running the NJ Transit trains are threatening to strike at midnight if their union can’t come to an agreement with NJ Transit – you know, the third biggest transit system in the US.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) union leaders are pushing for engineers to make $170,000 a year, claiming that it better reflects the demands and risks of the job. On the other hand, NJ Transit’s CEO Kris Kolluri is saying that engineers are already making an average of $135,000 annually, with some top earners raking in over $200,000.
Negotiations have been dragging on for months, and it seemed like things were all good in March when they reached a tentative agreement. But surprise, surprise – the union members shot it down with an 87% no vote in April. Now, they’re back at the bargaining table in a last-ditch effort to avoid a strike.
NJ Transit is warning its riders to wrap up their travels by midnight tonight or risk being stuck. But hey, maybe there’s hope for an agreement to keep things rolling. Time is ticking, though, so they better make up their minds soon.
If the strike does happen, NJ Transit has a backup plan involving limited bus routes and private carriers to get people where they need to go. But let’s be real – it’s only going to handle about 20% of the usual train riders. Plus, they’ve already canceled service to the Shakira concerts at MetLife Stadium and delayed lane closures at Hudson River crossings for the expected traffic chaos.
Oh, and did I mention that there’s a Knicks vs. Celtics game and the Subway Series between the Mets and Yankees happening on Friday night? Yeah, those events usually pack the trains, so it’s gonna be a real mess if there’s a strike.
Governor Phil Murphy is crossing his fingers for a resolution, but he’s not ruling out declaring a state of emergency if things go south. Stay tuned for more updates on this transit drama.
Alright, folks, that’s the scoop for now. Let’s see how this all plays out in the Garden State.
