Overview

• Approximately 450 NJ Transit engineers, represented by the BLET union, began their strike at 12:01 a.m. Friday after a 15-hour negotiation session failed to reach an agreement.
• The strike has shut down all NJ Transit commuter rail service, affecting 350,000 daily riders between New Jersey and New York City, including connections to Newark Liberty International Airport.
• NJ Transit announced contingency plans, including additional bus services from park-and-ride lots starting Monday, though these will only accommodate about 20% of usual rail passengers.
• The union is demanding pay parity with engineers on regional rail systems, citing six years without raises, while NJ Transit argues the proposed increases could trigger unsustainable financial ripple effects.
• Governor Phil Murphy and NJ Transit leadership have called for a deal that balances fairness to workers with fiscal responsibility, with federal mediation talks scheduled to resume on Sunday.