Governor Signs New Jersey Transit Worker Bill

New Jersey Transit Labor coalition with Governor 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law a bill that would stop New Jersey Transit from escaping rail worker lawsuits under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA).

Gov. Murphy signed the bill, S. 3164, into law on June 26 to restore worker protections for employees of NJ Transit, who had been hamstrung from collecting damages for on-the-job injuries by the court’s ruling in January 2018.

The law bars NJ Transit from asserting sovereign immunity to dodge claims arising out of the Railway Labor Act, the Federal Employers Liability Act, the Railroad Retirement Act, the Railroad Retirement Tax Act, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, as well as federal railroad safety laws, whistleblower laws, discrimination laws, and the Interstate Commerce Act.

“This is the difference…,” said TCU President Bob Scardelletti “this is what we get with a governor that cares about the rights and jobs of the workers. I would like to thank all the TCU members on NJT, especially the TCU Local Chairmen on New Jersey Transit, they diligently worked with their membership and the state to help pass this law.”

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