Progress Through Unity

NJ COVID Call Center- Avien International Inc.

Please see the statement below from the Human Resources and Medical Departments:

“In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, NJ TRANSIT is working with a company called Aviem International, Inc., an organization that specializes in people-centric emergency response. Given the needs of our workforce, we have set up this hotline to be answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In an effort to ensure all employees needs and questions are met, Aviem, which is an extension of the Medical and Leave Management team here at NJT, will be making outbound calls to employees to follow up on their cases going forward to inquire if their health has improved or changed, answer any questions they may have, as well as document and request information that may be missing or unclear in their case file. They will be calling from an 800 number and will leave messages if the employee does not answer. If an employee provided an email only, they will email the employee from the NJT medical account. In order for us to process their cases in a timely and accurate fashion, we request that employees respond to these outbound calls/emails. They should feel comfortable to provide information to those questions that are asked”.

Coronavirus task force letter from our GC Jerome Johnson

Download (PDF, 118KB)

COVID-19 UPDATE: ATTENTION NJ TRANSIT EMPLOYEES

 

 

  • The first step to report any COVID-19-related information to Medical Services (i.e., positive test results, self-quarantine orders, return to work dates, etc.) is calling the NJ TRANSIT Coronavirus hotline at (888) 890-0729.
  • This hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Calling the hotline will significantly improve the timeliness of processing your information.
  • Do not submit documentation without also calling the hotline number. Your documentation may not be processed if you do not call the hotline.
  • Please remember to submit your documentation – via e-mail to Medical@njtransit.com – only ONCE. Your supervisor does not need to re-send any information you have previously submitted. Sending multiple copies delays processing.
  • Please include the following information in all submissions:
    • Name
    • Employee ID Number
    • Contact Number and/or E-mail Address
    • Business Line: (Bus/Rail/Access Link/Light Rail/Corporate/Police)
    • Union or Non-Union
    • Job Title
    • First Date Out

COVID-19 Issues

Please report all pandemic related issues as to the cleanliness or sanitization, of equipment or work areas, homeless issues, passengers without face coverings and the supplies offered or available for personal protection on the below form, your GC is saving and documenting issues.

Please attach pictures and document equipment, time, dates, location. 

NJ Site First In U.S. To Offer Drive-Thru Coronavirus Saliva Test

https://patch.com/new-jersey/edison-metuchen/edison-first-u-s-offer-drive-thru-coronavirus-saliva-tests

Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order to Implement Additional Mitigation Requirements on NJ TRANSIT, Private Carriers, and Restaurants to Limit the Spread of COVID-19

 

04/11/2020

TRENTON — Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 125, imposing additional mitigation requirements on NJ TRANSIT and all private carriers to limit the spread of COVID-19. The order also outlines specific policies on restaurants that have remained open for takeout orders.

“We must continue our commitment to do everything we can to flatten the curve and defeat this virus,” said Governor Murphy.  “With these additional requirements, we are aggressively reducing the spread of the virus to protect New Jersey residents.” 

“We are grateful Governor Murphy is adding extra authority and enforcement to the personal protective equipment policies NJ TRANSIT has implemented in recent weeks for the protection of our employees and customers,” said NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kevin Corbett. “Our bus, train, light rail and Access Link paratransit service is vital to ensuring essential personnel can continue to get to their jobs and back home again, and Governor Murphy’s executive order strengthens the tools we have to do this as safely as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Governor Murphy’s executive order directs the following, effective on Monday, April 13th at 8:00 p.m.:  

1. NJ TRANSIT must adopt the following policies:

  • NJ TRANSIT workers may limit occupancy by passengers at 50% of the stated maximum vehicle capacity on all trains, buses and light rail lines in accordance with any guidelines instituted by NJ TRANSIT operational divisions;
  • Require infection control practices, such as coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper tissue usage and disposal;
  • Arrange for contactless pay options across all modes of transportation wherever feasible. Such policies shall, wherever possible, consider populations that do not have access to internet service;
  • Arrange for back door entry on buses wherever feasible, and take seats out of service near the bus operator to allow for proper social distancing from the bus operator wherever feasible;
  • Require frequent sanitization of high-touch areas in stations, like restrooms, waiting areas, credit card machines, and keypads;
  • Place conspicuous signage at stations and throughout train cars, buses and light rail vehicles alerting workers and customers to the required six feet of physical distance;
  • Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings while on trains, buses and light rail vehicles except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health or where the individual is under two years of age, and require workers to wear gloves when in contact with customers. NJ TRANSIT must provide, at its expense, such face coverings and gloves for their workers, to the extent supplies are available.  If a customer refuses to wear a cloth face covering for non-medical reasons, then NJ TRANSIT workers may decline entry to the individual, and NJ TRANSIT operational divisions will institute guidelines to operators on this issue.  Nothing in the stated policy should prevent workers or customers from wearing a surgical-grade mask or other more protective face covering if the individual is already in possession of such equipment, or if NJ TRANSIT is otherwise required to provide such worker with more protective equipment due to the nature of the work involved.  Where an individual declines to wear a face covering due to a medical condition that inhibits such usage, neither NJ TRANSIT nor any of its workers shall require the individual to produce medical documentation verifying the stated condition. 


2. There are three different categories of private carrier companies covered by the Order: (i) Private Carriers, who NJ TRANSIT has entered into contracts with for the provision of bus and light rail service, (ii) Unaffiliated Private Carriers, who run their own lines of bus service, and (iii) Paratransit Private Carriers, who NJ TRANSIT has entered into contracts with for the provision of Access Link paratransit service. These carriers must adopt the following policies, although there are slight variations for each category of carrier in the Order and carriers should review the text of the Order to ensure they are in compliance:

  • Workers may limit occupancy by passengers at 50% of the stated maximum vehicle capacity on all bus and light rail lines and Access Link vehicles that these carriers operate in accordance with any guidelines instituted by the carriers, and where applicable, in consultation with NJ TRANSIT operational divisions;
  • Require infection control practices, such as coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper tissue usage and disposal;
  • Arrange for contactless pay options across all modes of transportation that the carriers operate wherever feasible. Such policies shall, wherever possible, consider populations that do not have access to internet service;
  • Arrange for back door entry on buses wherever feasible, and take seats out of service near the bus operator to allow for proper social distancing from the bus operator wherever feasible;
  • Place conspicuous signage throughout buses, light rail and Access Link vehicles, if applicable, alerting workers and customers to the required six feet of physical distance;
  • Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings while on buses, light rail and Access Link vehicles except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health or where the individual is under two years of age, and require workers to wear gloves when in contact with customers. These carriers must provide, at their expense, such face coverings and gloves for their workers, to the extent supplies are available.  If a customer refuses to wear a cloth face covering for non-medical reasons, then workers for these carriers may decline entry to the individual, and where applicable, the carriers will consult with NJ TRANSIT operational divisions to institute guidelines to operators on this issue.  Nothing in the stated policy should prevent workers or customers from wearing a surgical-grade mask or other more protective face covering if the individual is already in possession of such equipment, or if the carriers are otherwise required to provide such worker with more protective equipment due to the nature of the work involved.  Where an individual declines to wear a face covering due to a medical condition that inhibits such usage, neither the carriers nor any of their workers shall require the individual to produce medical documentation verifying the stated condition.

 

3. Restaurants, cafeterias, food courts, bars, etc. that are still permitted to operate must adopt policies that contain the following provisions:

  • Limit occupancy at 10% of the stated maximum capacity, wherever feasible, at one time;
  • Ensure six feet of distance between workers and customers, except at the moment of payment and/or exchange of goods;
  • Require infection control practices, such as regular hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper tissue usage and disposal;
  • Provide employees break time for repeated handwashing throughout the workday;
  • Arrange for contactless pay, pickup, and/or delivery options wherever feasible;
  • Provide sanitization materials, such as hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, to staff;
  • Require frequent sanitization of high-touch areas like credit card machines, keypads, and counters;
  • Place conspicuous signage at entrances and throughout the food business, if applicable, alerting staff and customers to the required six feet of physical distance;
  • Require workers to wear cloth face coverings and gloves while on the premises, except where doing so would inhibit that worker’s health, and require workers to wear gloves when in contact with customers or goods. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings and gloves for their employees.  Customers that enter the food business will similarly be required to wear cloth face coverings, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health or where the individual is under the age of two, but will not be required to wear such covering when receiving a delivery or when picking up goods outside of the food business.  If a worker or customer refuses to wear a cloth face covering for non-medical reasons and if such covering cannot be provided to the individual by the food business at the point of entry, then the food business must decline entry to the individual. Such food business should, however, arrange for delivery, curbside pick-up or alternative arrangements wherever possible.  Nothing in the stated policy should prevent workers or customers from wearing a surgical-grade mask or other more protective face covering if the individual is already in possession of such equipment, or if the business is otherwise required to provide such worker with more protective equipment due to the nature of the work involved. Where an individual declines to wear a face covering inside the food business due to a medical condition that inhibits such usage, neither the food business nor its staff shall require the individual to produce medical documentation verifying the stated condition.

    Download (PDF, 131KB)

Payroll/Verification

Just an update as many members already have first hand experience, payroll verification is currently decimated due to the COVID-19.

There are no clerk’s in the office, all compensation requiring a timecard is not being processed. We are trying to work with them to get issues resolved for members who are substantially short, we are aware there are many. Continue to fill out and place timecards in the box, if the card requires a signature KEEP A COPY. We will update affected members if we can get resolution. All other timecards will be processed when employees are available.

Vacation pay for the weeks of 03/23/20 & 03/30/20 will be fixed in the next pay period at a minimum, we are still trying to get it fixed this week. Future vacation pay should also be okay.

ACTP/CTP will be fixed in the next pay period at a minimum, we are still trying to get it fixed this week. As above the fix should be okay moving forward.

As of right now we have received over 120 payroll shortage submissions, we can not answer every call and using the form is the best way to report issues please use https://utulocal60.com/payroll-shortage-form-2/   This is the most effective way to resolve issues.

We are in unprecedented times and are trying our best to resolve issues quickly, the structure of the payroll department is obviously inadequate, but we can not fix it now, and will have to work through it. 

We will post updates as changes happen here and on our Facebook page.  

COVID-19 Information

ATTENTION ALL EMPLOYEES SUBMITTING INFORMATION TO MEDICAL SERVICES VIA FAX OR E-MAIL.  

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN ALL SUBMISSIONS: 

  • Name
  • Employee ID Number
  • Contact Number and/or E-mail Address
  • Business Line: (Bus/Rail/Access Link/Light Rail/Corporate/Police)
  • Union or Non-Union
  • Job Title
  • First Date Out

Your documentation may not be processed if you do not include all the above information. Also, please remember to submit your documentation only ONCE – sending multiple copies delays processing.

If you are having trouble getting through to the NJ TRANSIT COVID-19 hotline at (973) 378-6200, please try the alternate line at (888) 890-0729. If you continue to have trouble, please have your supervisor call NJ TRANSIT Nurse Heather Capell, at (856) 968-3981 (office) or (973) 558-1687 (cell).

COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 UPDATE:  

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR EMPLOYEES PREPARING TO RETURN TO WORK AFTER QUARANTINE OR RECOVERY FROM COVID-19 

If you have been quarantined: 

Please contact NJ TRANSIT’s Coronavirus hotline – at (973) 378-6200 – at least 3 days before your healthcare provider has cleared you to return to work. This will give our nurses time to process your MD-40 form, which is necessary to reinstate you into the workforce.

If you have contracted COVID-19: 

Before returning to work, you must first submit the appropriate documentation from your healthcare provider, saying you are fully recovered and no longer contagious. Documentation can be sent via e-mail to Medical@njtransit.com. Then – at least 3 days before you have been cleared to return to work – please contact the hotline, to begin processing your MD-40 form.

If you are having trouble getting through to the hotline, please try the alternate line at (888) 890-0729, or have your supervisor call NJ TRANSIT Nurse Heather Capell, at (856) 968-3981 (office) or (973) 558-1687 (cell), to expedite the process.

Members out due to Child Care obligations from the COVID-19 pandemic

We will update this information as it becomes available. Employees will be eligible for relief under the state FMLA coverage. The attached Leave of absence form must be filled out and signed by the employee. Depending on the type of leave, the employee must provide the requested documents.

Also the employee note at the bottom of page 1, if he/she would like to use vacation pay or any other accrued leave to pay themselves for the first 10 days. An employee can also request to be paid “Earned Sick Pay” at 2/3 pay, this pay will not affect their accrued leave bank.

Documents must be attached in order to be approved. As a reminder the employee will have 3 days to provide documentation to support his/her need for leave. 

Download (PDF, 178KB)

Download (PDF, 137KB)