Rail workers union demands more from NJ Transit

NEWARK (AP) — The union representing New Jersey Transit's rail workers calls the agency's latest contract offer "utterly unacceptable."

NJ Transit has offered unionized rail workers a 10-percent pay increase over 7.5 years. But that raise would be offset by a big increase in health insurance costs.

The offer was made to an emergency board that was appointed by President Barack Obama to avoid a transit strike.

The Record reports the unions have demanded a 17-percent pay raise over six years, plus a cap limiting health care expenses to two percent of each employee's weekly pay before overtime.

A New Jersey Transit spokeswoman declined to discuss the negotiations.

NJ Transit's rail employees have worked more than four years without a new contract.

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