Home » NJ Transit Strike Ends With Tentative Agreement; Rail Service to Resume Tuesday

NJ Transit Strike Ends With Tentative Agreement; Rail Service to Resume Tuesday

by Seth Siditsky

New Jersey Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) announced a tentative contract agreement Sunday, ending the agency’s first rail strike in more than 40 years. Regular weekday train service is set to resume Tuesday, May 20, after safety inspections and equipment repositioning.

The strike began early Friday, May 16, halting all NJ Transit commuter rail operations and prompting contingency plans that included limited bus service and calls for commuters to work remotely. NJ Transit said it would take approximately 24 hours to inspect tracks, reposition equipment, and close movable bridges before full service could resume.

With the tentative agreement reached, the union has agreed to halt the strike and engineers will return to work in preparation for Tuesday’s service restart. Limited supplemental bus service will continue Monday, May 19, from four Park & Ride locations during peak hours.

Governor Phil Murphy praised the deal as a win for both riders and workers.

“I am pleased to announce that we have reached a fair and fiscally responsible contract settlement that provides a generous wage increase for BLET members while saving taxpayers and customers the burden of fare increases,” Murphy said. “Most importantly, it ensures the resumption of rail service for the 100,000 people who depend on our rail system on a daily basis.”

The tentative agreement now moves to BLET’s 450 NJ Transit members—locomotive engineers and trainees—for a ratification vote, which will be conducted electronically. The NJ Transit Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on the contract at its June 11 meeting. Contract details will be made public after union members have reviewed them.

NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri called the deal fair and sustainable.

“I want to thank our customers for their understanding and apologize for any inconvenience during this time,” Kolluri said. “However, it was important to me to reach a deal that didn’t require a significant fare increase.”

Tom Haas, BLET’s General Chairman at NJ Transit, said the agreement includes wage increases that go beyond the offer previously rejected by union members.

“The only real issue was wages,” Haas said. “We were able to reach an agreement that boosts hourly pay and helps NJ Transit with retention and recruitment, without causing any significant budget issue or requiring a fare increase.”

Union leaders have noted that NJ Transit engineers were the lowest paid among major commuter railroads in the U.S. despite working in one of the most expensive regions in the country. The engineers had not received a raise in five years.

BLET National President Mark Wallace said allowing the strike to proceed without federal intervention helped move both sides toward a resolution. “Allowing strikes to happen encourages settlement rather than stonewalling,” he said.

New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin also welcomed the resolution.

“The past few days have been frustrating and uncertain for many, and the return of service offers a sense of stability people have been waiting for,” Coughlin said in a statement.

NJ Transit’s Monday-only Park & Ride bus service will operate during AM and PM peak periods from:

  • Secaucus Junction to Port Authority Bus Terminal (NYC)
  • PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel) to Port Authority Bus Terminal (operated by Academy Bus; NJ Transit tickets not accepted)
  • Hamilton Rail Station to Newark Penn Station PATH
  • Woodbridge Center Mall to Harrison PATH Station

Customers can find full details at njtransit.com/restart.

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