NJT riders left with no choice but, drive, Uber, or Amtrak, due to strike.

[Amol S.]

The possibility of the current strike was known for at least 2 weeks, as news released then that NJT and the union representing transit workers were unable to come to an agreement over a new contract. The next meeting between NJT and the union is scheduled this upcoming Sunday. Some who take the NJT and had night shift duty were unable to go home.

Unlike NYCTA or the MTA in New York, vehicle and conductors of the NJT are alowed to participate in a union strike if an agreement between the union and NJT is not made. New York made the Taylor Law in 1966 after the MTA subway and bus went on strike.

https://gothamist.com/news/nj-transit-strike-foists-riders-onto-amtrak-which-charges-70-for-a-17-minute-ride

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/nyregion/nj-transit-amtrak.html

 

[Brainonska511]

They certainly deserve good pay for having to always be on while doing their job of train driving. However, the median pay is $172k (though, there are some things where a lot of pay is back loaded thanks to antiquated seniority rules).

 

[FelixDeCat]

These guys are making over $100,000 per year and now want a 70% pay increase to $170,000? To drive a train?

Pressing the gas and breaks is not worth $81.71 per hour.

 

[K1052]

Any sensible country would have expanded 4-5 lines of the NYCT subway into (at least) Hudson and Bergen counties by now. Alas.

 

[outriding]

These guys are making over $100,000 per year and now want a 70% pay increase to $170,000? To drive a train?

Pressing the gas and breaks is not worth $81.71 per hour.

That is a fucking lie

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-long-will-the-nj-transit-strike-last-engineers-tired-of-being-at-the-bottom-seek-six-figure-salaries-be5b61f6

They make 89k and the average pay is just over 100k. They are just looking for a 10 per hour increase which will put them about 110k

With the cost of living living in the east coast it seems reasonable and too they have not had an increase in 5 years

 

[zinfamous]

yeah that's how strikes work.

 

[FelixDeCat]

That is a fucking lie

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-long-will-the-nj-transit-strike-last-engineers-tired-of-being-at-the-bottom-seek-six-figure-salaries-be5b61f6

They make 89k and the average pay is just over 100k. They are just looking for a 10 per hour increase which will put them about 110k

With the cost of living living in the east coast it seems reasonable and too they have not had an increase in 5 years

The people who wrote the article did not do basic research. Here it is, directly from the employer:

The Facts About NJ TRANSIT’s Negotiations with the BLET | New Jersey Public Transportation Corporation

NJTransit Website Twitter image ||undefined

www.njtransit.com

2. Claim: NJ TRANSIT engineers are underpaid compared to peers.​

Fact: NJ TRANSIT locomotive engineers already have average total earnings of $135,000 annually, with the highest earners exceeding $200,000. Under the tentative agreement BLET members rejected, locomotive engineers would have averaged $172,856 as of July 1, 2027. The highest paid locomotive engineer would be earning $286,000 in 2027. These wages are competitive within the region, higher than wages at SEPTA in Philadelphia, and lower than those at MTA (Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road) in New York. Under the BLET’s proposal, the highest paid engineer’s salary would increase to $314,174 in 2027. It isn't reasonable to live and work in New Jersey, but demand to be paid like you live and work in New York.

 

[Brainonska511]

Any sensible country would have expanded 4-5 lines of the NYCT subway into (at least) Hudson and Bergen counties by now. Alas.

And/or just do through-running trains through Penn Station, connect Penn with GC, and have true regional rail. And then unify the systems in payment like TFL or how rail works in Japan.

Better things are possible. We just need these agencies and states to work together.

 

[outriding]

The people who wrote the article did not do basic research. Here it is, directly from the employer:

The Facts About NJ TRANSIT’s Negotiations with the BLET | New Jersey Public Transportation Corporation

NJTransit Website Twitter image ||undefined

www.njtransit.com

2. Claim: NJ TRANSIT engineers are underpaid compared to peers.​

Fact: NJ TRANSIT locomotive engineers already have average total earnings of $135,000 annually, with the highest earners exceeding $200,000. Under the tentative agreement BLET members rejected, locomotive engineers would have averaged $172,856 as of July 1, 2027. The highest paid locomotive engineer would be earning $286,000 in 2027. These wages are competitive within the region, higher than wages at SEPTA in Philadelphia, and lower than those at MTA (Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road) in New York. Under the BLET’s proposal, the highest paid engineer’s salary would increase to $314,174 in 2027. It isn't reasonable to live and work in New Jersey, but demand to be paid like you live and work in New York.

/facepalm

Even from your own link.

Total compensation

Meaning they add every little thing

Eg vacation… healthcare… education…. Keeping up certifications…

Also the engineers generally do a quite a bit of overtime..

Also from your link. They listed everyone’s salary. From what I know of corporate pay. It looks like the top earners are in management

 

[K1052]

And/or just do through-running trains through Penn Station, connect Penn with GC, and have true regional rail. And then unify the systems in payment like TFL or how rail works in Japan.

Better things are possible. We just need these agencies and states to work together.

Yeah, NJT should become part of the MTA and through running done as appropriate. Tunnel from Penn into the tail tracks of the East Side Access so NJT riders can get to west midtown. Ditto for PATH because the PA doesn't realize any economies of scale running it (system is very costly on a per passenger level) and NYCT should handle it.

The lack of trans-Hudson capacity is just a giant problem that demands subway expansion. It would also relive the PA from having to build such a huge new bus terminal in the middle of Manhattan if a lot of bus commuters can be scooped up by subway services.

 

[FelixDeCat]

/facepalm

Even from your own link.

Total compensation

Meaning they add every little thing

Eg vacation… healthcare… education…. Keeping up certifications…

Also the engineers generally do a quite a bit of overtime..

Also from your link. They listed everyone’s salary. From what I know of corporate pay. It looks like the top earners are in management

If you dont like your pay, find a job that will pay you what you want. Everybody else does. Dont inconvenience everyone else with your strike because you want to be paid more for the exact same job you do already.

 

[outriding]

If you dont like your pay, find a job that will pay you what you want. Everybody else does. Dont inconvenience everyone else with your strike because you want to be paid more for the exact same job you do already.

So you are ok with businesses fucking over the workers

Do you have a job with healthcare, livable wage that doesn’t require you to work 60+ hours a week?

If you said yes

You can thank unions for standing up to businesses and giving people a fair wage across this nation

 

[FelixDeCat]

So you are ok with businesses fucking over the workers

Do you have a job with healthcare, livable wage that doesn’t require you to work 60+ hours a week?

If you said yes

You can thank unions for standing up to businesses and giving people a fair wage across this nation

Im ok with businesses making a profit by delivering a service thats affordable to all. You can thank efficient businesses for an easier way to get by and unions for making crappy products no one can afford - except union workers.

If you dont like your job, find another one.

 

[IronWing]

Im ok with businesses making a profit by delivering a service thats affordable to all. You can thank efficient businesses for an easier way to get by and unions for making crappy products no one can afford - except union workers.

If you dont like your job, find another one.

Get a job, parasite.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Get a job, parasite.

Back on ignore you go, parasite.

 

[IronWing]

Back on ignore you go, parasite.

Felix, what made you come to despise working people so much? Shame over your worthlessness?

 

[nickqt]

Felix, what made you come to despise working people so much? Shame over your worthlessness?

If it doesn't directly concern a conservative, it isn't a problem. If it does directly concern a conservative, the entire system must be changed. Go look at shitbag's posts about wanting socialized healthcare.

Now apply that to everything.

There, it's been explained, you can quit feeding it.

 

[FelixDeCat]

If it doesn't directly concern a conservative, it isn't a problem. If it does directly concern a conservative, the entire system must be changed. Go look at shitbag's posts about wanting socialized healthcare.

Now apply that to everything.

There, it's been explained, you can quit feeding it.

Why should commuters pay more so these people can live large?

Greed benefits no one except the greedy.

Now I will support an end to stock buybacks to raise pay for all nonunion employees as that makes sense. That money was going to be spent anyway. But making everyone pay because a union wants a 70% pay increase?

 

[nickqt]

Find a cheaper way to commute you fucking moocher. And pay for your own shitty diseases. It's not everyone else's fault your body hates you and wants you to die.

 

[FelixDeCat]

^ You sound like a union member.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Im ok with businesses making a profit by delivering a service thats affordable to all. You can thank efficient businesses for an easier way to get by and unions for making crappy products no one can afford - except union workers.

If you dont like your job, find another one.

Don't you make your money off the stock market? What service are you delivering to your community, exactly?

 

[WelshBloke]

Why should commuters pay more so these people can live large?

Greed benefits no one except the greedy.

Do you have this reaction when someone becomes a billionaire because they own a company or someone that makes millions out of the stock exchange?

 

[WelshBloke]

^ You sound like a union member.

Every worker that doesn't own a company should be a union member.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Don't you make your money off the stock market? What service are you delivering to your community, exactly?

I try to make money. I am only somewhat successful.

Do you have this reaction when someone becomes a billionaire because they own a company or someone that makes millions out of the stock exchange?

Every worker that doesn't own a company should be a union member.

Yes.

 

[outriding]

^ You sound like a union member.

Have you ever thanked a union for the benefits they fought for you?