NEWARK, N.J. — The National Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen will pay $50,000 to NJ Transit to settle a claim over an illegal job action on last year’s Juneteenth holiday, the transit agency announced Thursday.
Engineers did not report for their assignments on June 17, 2022, leading to the cancellation of nearly 300 trains. A federal court decision that month found that the General Committee of Adjustment, the local union that organized a “sick-out” on that date, had violated the Railway Labor Act. A court order remains in effect and prohibits any further action by the local union, including action on this year’s Juneteenth Holiday.
“NJ Transit is pleased that the National BLET recognizes that Federal law prohibiting a job action must be followed and that they are committed to ensuring their membership in New Jersey follows the law moving forward,” NJ Transit CEO Kevin S. Corbett said in a press release. “We fully expect the BLET local union to realize there are serious consequences for unilaterally violating the law to the detriment of tens of thousands of New Jersey residents.”
While not acknowledging or admitting any wrongdoing as it relates to the June 17 event, BLET National President Edward Hall wrote in a June 6 letter to Corbett that the national union “hereby affirms that it does not condone unlawful strikes, slowdowns, or other such job actions by its affiliates. Consistent with our Bylaws and our obligations under the Railway Labor Act, BLET will continue to urge its affiliates and their members to comply with the law and not engage in unlawful strikes, slowdowns or other such job actions. BLET also urges its affiliates to comply with all directives and orders issued by the courts.”
NJ Transit is still pursuing claims against the General Committee of Adjustment. The transit agency says its latest contract offer has been accepted and ratified by 14 of 15 unions, covering 91% of NJ Transit’s rail union employees. The exception is the GCA; that union and NJ Transit remain in mediation through the National Mediation Board.
