DeCamp Bus Drivers' Strike Could Inconvenience Thousands

Union employees of DeCamp Bus Lines announced they will strike beginning at 5 a.m., Thursday. As a result, commuters have been scrambling to come up with alternatives for getting to work. NJTransit has posted advice on its website, warning customers to expect crowded conditions.

The dispatcher who picked up the phone at DeCamp headquarters in Montclair said the company does not have a spokesperson and, when asked why the union plans to strike or how long it will last, she said she was authorized only to say, "No comment."

Dan Stessel, an NJTransit spokesman, said the company is prepared for additional commuters. "We've seen this before ... there was a threat of a strike in 2006 that never materialized," he said. "We've just dusted off our same warnings we issued then."

Stessel urged customers to purchase tickets to advance in order to avoid long lines and also to be mindful of parking capacity constraints.

The announcement on the DeCamp company's website simply said: "Attention all passengers, effective 5:00 AM Thursday morning, September 2, 2010 the union employees of DeCamp Bus Lines will be on strike. There will be no service. We will keep riders informed as information becomes available."

DeCamp is a major provider of bus service to and from New York City from northern New Jersey areas, such as West Orange and Montclair, with about 7,400 people traveling via DeCamp buses each day.

"For me, Plan B is to take the train," said Andrew Scher, an attorney and Upper Montclair resident. "This is only a mionor inconvenience for me since I live near two train stations and also have a train station parking permit."

The commuter service Clever Commute suggests going to DeCamp and signing up for their alerts. If taking NJTransit, then sign up for Clever Commute alerts  for "Gladstone & Morristown Lines." Clever Commute info also is available via Twitter.

The membership of Local 1317 voted to authorize a strike about three months ago, but drivers never made good on the threat — until now.

The last known drivers' strike at DeCamp Bus Lines was in 1982. How long this work stoppage will last still has not been determined. More information will be released following an emergency union meeting Wednesday.