Published 06 May, 2016
After averting a strike in March, TWU Local 2001 members have ratified their new contract with New Jersey Transit. A coalition of 14 unions, representing 4,000 rail workers, agreed to a deal less than 48 hours before they would have gone on strike. The unions had been working without a contract since 2011.
“This is a fair and equitable contract for our members,” said TWU International Representative and Local 2001 President John Feltz. Now signed and in effect, the agreement (through 2019) gives Local 2001 members a wage increase of 21 percent over 8.5 years, retroactive to 2011. “Our hard-working members deserve this increase and the other benefits in the contract. I’m pleased that it passed by a strong margin of 76 percent,” said Feltz.
Two unions within the coalition have failed—by narrow margins—to ratify the contract; they are going back to the table with the company.