BLET members vote to strike at NJ Transit; PEB has been requested

One hundred percent of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) members working for New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) voted to strike should the union and the railroad fail to reach an agreement to settle their contract dispute.

BLET National President Dennis Pierce said the unanimous vote in favor of a strike is rare. NJ Transit employs more than 400 BLET-represented locomotive engineers.

"It is unfortunate that NJ Transit continues to insist that its locomotive engineers accept less than the economic pattern established for other passenger rail engineers in the area," Pierce said. "The 100 percent majority voting in favor of a strike sends a strong, unified message to NJ Transit that over four years without a contract is not acceptable to our membership."

BLET has been bargaining with NJ Transit for a new contract for locomotive engineers since April 12, 2011. The dispute has been in National Mediation Board (NMB)-sponsored mediation since June 11, 2014. BLET is currently bargaining in concert with all the other unions that comprise the New Jersey Transit Rail Labor Coalition, which represents 100 percent of the overall rail union membership on NJ Transit and was formed in 2015 following three years of unsuccessful individual bargaining by each union.

NMB released BLET from mediation with NJ Transit and BLET formally declined the NMB's proffer of arbitration on June 12.

On June 30 the BLET, along with all the other unions in the New Jersey Transit Rail Labor Coalition, filed a request with the NMB for the appointment of a Section 9A Presidential Emergency Board (PEB). Absent action by President Obama on that request, locomotive engineers could walk off the job, or be locked out by NJ Transit, at 12:01 a.m., Thursday, July 16. The requested PEB would delay a strike or lockout by the parties and would investigate and issue a report and recommendations concerning the dispute.

Source: R T & S