The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the union representing NJ Transit’s train engineers, has rejected a proposed settlement in their wage dispute with the state transit agency. This rejection paves the way for a possible strike in March, as engineers have been seeking a 14% wage increase for the 2028 fiscal year, while NJ Transit has only proposed a 4% increase. The union argues that this larger increase is necessary to match wages at other transportation agencies and to offset inflation that has reduced their real pay despite scheduled wage hikes.
The federal board overseeing the dispute has found wage differentials between NJ Transit and other railroads but deemed the agency’s proposed increase as the most reasonable. The board also stated that the 4% increase proposed by NJ Transit is closer to a reasonable wage increase than the 14% hike sought by engineers. The possibility of a strike could disrupt service and potentially impact commerce, prompting concerns about the need for a fair and sustainable resolution between the parties involved.
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