A walkout by New Jersey Transit train engineers on Friday disrupted travel for approximately 350,000 commuters in New Jersey and New York City, forcing them to find alternative transportation or consider forgoing their journeys altogether.

The walkout was triggered by the breakdown of negotiations on Thursday, marking the first transit strike in the state in over four decades and occurring a month after union members resoundingly rejected a proposed labor agreement with management.

"Tom Haas, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, stated that their latest proposal was rebuffed, prompting the other party to abandon negotiations with two hours remaining."

NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri characterized the current state as a "hiatus in discussions."

He affirmed his intention to promptly resume discussions, stating during a joint press conference with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Thursday evening, "I am prepared to reconvene this evening, should they be amenable. Furthermore, I would be available to meet again tomorrow morning, if they so desire, as I firmly believe this issue is eminently resolvable. The fundamental question, however, is whether they possess the requisite resolve to achieve a mutually agreeable outcome."

Murphy emphasized the necessity of achieving a conclusive agreement that equitably serves the interests of employees while remaining financially sustainable for New Jersey's commuters and taxpayers.

Following fifteen consecutive hours of contract negotiations, the union declared an impasse, with picket lines anticipated to form at 4 a.m. Friday.

NJ Transit, the country's third-largest transit provider, runs bus and rail services throughout New Jersey, facilitating almost a million journeys each weekday, many into New York City; the strike action has brought all NJ Transit commuter rail services to a standstill, disrupting vital transit links between New York City's Penn Station and northern New Jersey communities, in addition to Newark Airport, which has recently faced its own separate disruptions.

In anticipation of potential disruptions, the agency had recently unveiled contingency measures, including augmented bus services; however, they cautioned commuters that these additions would only marginally increase capacity on existing New York bus routes near train stations and would not be implemented until Monday, while contracts with private operators were also being finalised to provide bus services from key regional park-and-ride facilities during peak weekday hours.

Nevertheless, the agency conceded that bus capacity would be significantly constrained, accommodating only approximately 20% of the usual rail passenger volume; consequently, they strongly encouraged telecommuting for those able to do so, should a strike materialize.

The mere anticipation of the event had already precipitated widespread travel disruptions, with the transit authority preemptively suspending train and bus services for the Shakira concerts scheduled for Thursday and Friday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, amidst the prevailing climate of uncertainty.

Negotiations were held on Monday under the auspices of a federal mediation board in Washington, and continued on Thursday with a mediator present; Kolluri indicated that the board has proposed a further meeting on Sunday morning to facilitate renewed discussions.

The impasse in negotiations between the agency and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen primarily revolves around wages, with the union advocating for parity with compensation packages offered by comparable passenger railroads in the region; while the union reports an average annual salary of $113,000 for its members, they suggest a potential resolution hinges on agency CEO Kris Kolluri's approval of an average yearly salary of $170,000.

NJ Transit's management, however, contests the union's figures, asserting that engineers' average yearly compensation totals $135,000, with top earners exceeding $200,000.

Kolluri and Murphy stated Thursday night that the core challenge lies not merely in reaching a consensus on wage increases, but in formulating an agreement that avoids triggering demands for parity from other unions, which could jeopardize NJ Transit's financial stability.

While Congress retains the authority to preemptively halt the strike and compel union acceptance of a settlement, as it did in 2022 to avert a nationwide freight railroad disruption, legislators have thus far demonstrated a reluctance to exercise this power.

The union at NJ Transit has experienced a consistent decline in membership, primarily due to attrition as individuals seek more lucrative opportunities with rival railway companies; consequently, the number of NJ Transit engineers has diminished from approximately 500 several months prior to around 450 at present.