NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – Train engineers at New Jersey Transit reached preliminary agreements on Sunday, effectively concluding a three-day strike. Service for around 100,000 riders has been suspended daily, affecting routes to Newark Airport and connections across the Hudson River to New York City. The union announced that its members will resume work on Tuesday when train services return to their regular schedules.
The strike, which commenced on Friday, marked the first transport strike in the state in over four decades. Many in New Jersey who typically rely on transit have been exploring alternatives, such as buses, cars, taxis, boats, or simply staying home. The central issue was achieving an increase in engineers’ wages without causing significant financial distress to the transit system.
The Locomotive Engineers and Train Brotherhood initially stated that normal train services would resume on Monday, but later, Union spokesman Jamie Horwitz confirmed that NJ Transit would restart operations at 12:01 am on Tuesday.
A statement from the transport agency indicated that services would open on Tuesday as “inspections and preparations for the infrastructure will take approximately 24 hours before regular schedules can resume.”
The union’s email statement noted that the contract terms would be presented to the 450 union members who work as passenger railway locomotive engineers or trainees.
“I won’t disclose the specific terms of the agreements reached, but I can say that the primary issue was wages, and I was able to finalize an agreement last month that includes an hourly wage increase, exceeding a proposal that was turned down when NJ Transit management walked away from negotiations on Thursday evening.”
He further stated that the union could demonstrate to management “how to enhance wages for engineers… without leading to serious budgetary issues or necessitating a fare increase.”
A federal statement also mentioned that the deal will be put to a ratification vote by the National Union and will require the New Jersey Transit Committee’s approval during a scheduled meeting on June 11.
“This outcome is a significant achievement for this year,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said at a press conference on Sunday evening. He commended both parties for reaching an agreement that “is fair for NJ Transit employees while also being manageable for state commuters and taxpayers.”
NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri did not disclose transaction specifics but described it as “fair and financially responsible.” He expressed gratitude to the union for their sincere negotiations.
“The agreement reflects a series of concessions made by the workforce that will ultimately fund the fair wages sought by the union,” Kolluri stated at a press conference.
Buses will operate on Monday; however, both Murphy and Kolluri encouraged commuters to work from home one additional day if possible.
“By doing so tomorrow, it will help streamline mandatory employee movements throughout the system,” Kolluri remarked.
About a month prior, union members overwhelmingly rejected labor agreements with management.
NJ Transit – the nation’s third-largest transit system – operates buses and railroads throughout the state, providing nearly 1 million weekday trips, including those to New York City. The strike disrupted all transit commuter trains heading to New York, vital for public transportation, linking New York City’s Penn Station with Northern New Jersey communities. Newark Airport has also been experiencing unrelated delays recently.
Union national president Mark Wallace stated that NJ Transit must offer engineers wages comparable to those of Amtrak and Long Island Rail Road employees.
The union advocated for a contract ensuring its members earn an average salary of $113,000 a year, with some positions paid up to $170,000.
Nonetheless, NJ Transit leadership disputes the union’s data, claiming the average salary for engineers exceeds $135,000 annually, with the highest earners making over $200,000.
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Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Josh Funk contributed from Omaha, Nebraska.
Source: apnews.com