Negotiations between train engineers on strike and New Jersey’s major commuter railroad will continue on Sunday after a day of “constructive” yet tough discussions on Saturday.
“We’ve agreed to pause formal talks today, but we’re eager to resume discussions tomorrow,” stated NJ Transit president and CEO Chris Koruli in an afternoon announcement.
“Today’s conversation has been positive,” he added.
Both parties plan to reconvene ahead of a previously scheduled meeting with the National Mediation Committee on Sunday.
Mark Wallace, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Train, expressed hope that a deal might be reached as negotiations continue.
“If they cooperate, we could finalize an agreement,” Wallace remarked.
Kolluri mentioned to reporters at Newark’s Broad Street Station that he is focused on securing a deal to “get them back to work” and emphasized the need for dependable service for commuters.
He also mentioned he’s preparing for potential disruptions in his upcoming work commute, aiming to mitigate chaos for train travelers.
However, Kolluri noted that additional buses would struggle to accommodate the full volume of passengers normally served by the rail system.
The strike began on Friday, marking the first disruption in over 40 years due to stalled contract negotiations. Roughly 400 locomotive engineers walked off the job.
Negotiations took a downward turn late Thursday, right before a midnight deadline, when talks representing the engineers stalled.
The union is pushing for a pay increase, the first since 2019, while accusing management of abruptly leaving negotiations.
Gov. Phil Murphy, along with members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, publicly traded criticisms over the breakdown in negotiations. The governor labeled the union’s actions as “face slaps” and a disruption of commuters’ lives.
Despite this, union leaders remain steadfast in their strike until they secure what they deem fair compensation for their members.
During a protest on Saturday, a demonstrator wearing a shirt reading “United We Bargain We Beg” was seen outside a New Jersey Transit yard near the Delaware River, just above Trenton.
Veteran engineer Bill Craven, with 25 years of experience, stated, “Most of us would prefer to be running trains. We’re not aiming to disrupt lives, but we haven’t seen a raise in six years.”
The union contends that NJ Transit must align engineers’ pay with that of other commuter railroads like Amtrak and the Long Island Railroad.
The state maintains that 14 other unions negotiating distinct contracts are also unable to offer pay increases despite rising demands for higher wages.
NJ Transit indicated that engineers currently earn an average of $135,000, with management offering salaries that would average $172,000. However, the union challenges these figures, asserting the actual average is closer to $113,000.
