NJ Transit System Grinds to a Halt, Stranding Thousands

The first statewide transit strike in New Jersey in more than 40 years has officially begun.

After 450 unionized train engineers walked off their jobs in a pay dispute, transit across New Jersey has shut down, leaving many commuters stranded.

Some travelers were caught off guard by the NJ Transit rail shutdown Friday morning, while others hurried to arrange alternate ways to reach New York City and their workplaces. 

In an interview for The New York Times, Tom Haas, the NJ Transit general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union, was optimistic about a settlement prior to the shutdown.

“They decided to walk away. The other side has to give my members a fair and reasonable wage that is comparable with what other train engineers make in the area,” Haas said, specifically citing the Long Island Railroad, Metro-North, PATH and Amtrak. “It’s definitely frustrating, but we’re willing to go back to the table. The last thing we wanted is to be where we are.”

Meanwhile, James P. Louis, the national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, symhatized with communters.

“The passengers that we see everyday are like a second family to us. We feel what they’re going through,” Louis said. “Nobody wins over this. We want to get this settled. The passengers need to know that there’s going to be a train for them in the morning.”

NJ Transit typically serves hundreds of thousands of riders on an average weekday, connecting riders across dozens of New Jersey towns and cities as well as New York City. With the NJ transit strike, many commuters will have to opt for alternative options or work from home until a settlement is reached.