{"id":4617,"date":"2025-05-17T11:00:32","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T11:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/friscotimes.org\/?p=4617"},"modified":"2025-05-17T11:00:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T11:00:32","slug":"opinion-new-jersey-can-show-how-to-take-on-public-sector-strikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/friscotimes.org\/?p=4617","title":{"rendered":"Opinion | New Jersey Can Show How to Take On Public Sector Strikes"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Democrats have long blanched when public-sector unions threaten to strike and hold the economy for ransom. But with New Jersey Transit train engineers walking off the job<\/a> on Friday, Gov. Phil Murphy can show the nation how blue states can resist that threat. Don\u2019t panic, just say, \u201cLet them strike,\u201d and demonstrate resilience.<\/p>\n

With New York\u2019s help, New Jersey can reduce the impact of the strike.<\/p>\n

New Jersey starts with an advantage: As of 2024, nearly three-quarters of New Jersey Transit\u2019s weekday trips were on<\/a> buses and light rail, which continue to operate. Most commuters who travel into Manhattan from New Jersey arrive on a bus<\/a> and New Jersey is<\/a> adding bus service to mitigate the strike\u2019s impact.<\/a> A private bus company, Boxcar, is also giving customers more options<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Governor Murphy should also push<\/a> car-pooling, with the help of Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York, who could implement a two- or three-passenger minimum for vehicles entering Lower and Midtown Manhattan from New Jersey if traffic grows too heavy. New York\u2019s four-and-a-half-month-old congestion-pricing program is already a good reason for workers to car pool and save money.<\/p>\n

Governor Hochul should resist calls to suspend the congestion charge during the strike.<\/p>\n

Transit worker walkouts can have devastating consequences for the area economy. In 1966, the Transport Workers Union\u2019s 12-day strike<\/a> against subways cost New York more than half a billion dollars ($5 billion in today\u2019s dollars<\/a>) in lost wages and business.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n