New Jersey Sets an Example in Managing Public Sector Strikes

Public-sector union strikes have long posed challenges for Democratic leaders wary of economic disruptions. However, with New Jersey Transit engineers initiating a strike this Friday, Governor Phil Murphy has the opportunity to demonstrate how progressive states can effectively withstand such threats by remaining composed and resilient.

Collaboration with New York authorities further strengthens New Jersey's ability to lessen the strike's effects on daily commuters.

New Jersey holds a strategic edge: by 2024, about 75% of weekday trips on New Jersey Transit relied on buses and light rail services, which remain operational during the strike. The majority of commuters traveling to Manhattan from New Jersey use buses, and the state is expanding bus routes to reduce the strike’s impact. Additionally, private operators like Boxcar are providing alternative transportation options for passengers.

Governor Murphy is encouraged to promote carpooling initiatives, potentially with support from New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Should traffic congestion increase, New York might consider enforcing a minimum passenger count of two or three per vehicle entering Lower and Midtown Manhattan from New Jersey. The city's congestion pricing program, now in effect for over four months, already incentivizes carpooling by offering cost savings.

Governor Hochul is advised to maintain the congestion pricing system during the strike to manage traffic flow effectively rather than suspending it.

Historical transit strikes have inflicted severe economic damage on the region. For instance, the 1966 Transport Workers Union strike halted subways for 12 days, resulting in over half a billion dollars in lost wages and business revenue—equivalent to $5 billion today.

That strike notably drained the energy of the then-new administration under Mayor John V. Lindsay, shifting the political atmosphere from hopeful to fatigued.

The persistent threat of transit strikes imposes long-term political and economic costs. For decades, elected officials have permitted unions to leverage strike threats to safeguard pay and work conditions that continually drive up the operational costs of public transit.