
New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have reached a tentative agreement, concluding a three-day strike that disrupted rail services across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. This marks NJ Transit’s first statewide rail strike in over 40 years.
🚆 Service Resumption
While the agreement was finalized on Sunday, May 18, full rail operations are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, May 20. NJ Transit requires approximately 24 hours to conduct essential safety inspections and reposition equipment. In the interim, expanded bus services and Park & Ride options will be available on Monday, though capacity remains limited.
💼 Details of the Agreement
The tentative deal includes wage increases for the approximately 450 engineers represented by BLET. While specific figures have not been disclosed, the union indicates that the new agreement offers higher hourly wages than previous proposals. Importantly, the deal is structured to avoid significant impacts on NJ Transit’s budget or necessitate fare increases.
The agreement still requires ratification by union members and approval by NJ Transit’s board, which is scheduled to vote on June 11.