(TRENTON) – Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D- Bergen) released the following statement regarding the joint hearing of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee and the Assembly Judiciary Committee on complaints of employee discrimination and intimidation at NJ Transit:
“Systemic disorder among NJ Transit leadership is apparent after hearing the testimony on employee relations at the organization this afternoon. NJ Transit’s handling of general operations repeatedly has been a subject of inquiry over the last few years, but what we’ve learned today is just disturbing. Its operations may be more comparable to a train than we thought –one that has fallen off the rails.
“One documented account after another of employee discrimination and intimidation is enough to warrant a thorough look into current policies governing employees and diversity of NJ Transit.
“Multiple settlements and trials in recent years should sound the alarm for the state to investigate claims of racism, sexism, gender and pay discrimination. Questions of safety, training, and favoritism were raised this morning that cannot be ignored.
“Whether it’s a collective of “bad actors” that must be held responsible for their actions, even if it means removal from their positions, or overhauling human resource policies governing employer/employee relations and starting from scratch, employees should be supported and protected in the workplace. It’s the law and it’s the state’s duty to ensure NJ Transit stays on the right side of it.”