the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In a decisive vote on June 10, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) approved a new labor contract with NJ Transit, ending years of stalled negotiations and bringing wage increases for nearly 450 rail engineers.
The agreement, which helped avoid further disruption to regional rail service, was approved by a resounding margin — 398 in favor and only 21 opposed. The final step is for NJ Transit’s Board of Directors to approve the deal, potentially at its July 17 meeting.
🔧 What’s in the New Contract?
While NJ Transit has not released the full details, the deal includes wage increases and reportedly adheres to the agency’s existing budget. Officials hinted that the agreement required “meaningful concessions” from the union, likely involving work rule modifications such as how overtime and travel assignments are handled.
“I am pleased to announce the ratification of a new contract… representing a fair and fiscally responsible agreement for our locomotive engineers, NJ Transit, our customers, and the taxpayers of New Jersey,” said Kris Kolluri, NJ Transit President & CEO.
🪧 What Led to the May Strike?
The contract approval follows a historic three-day strike in mid-May that halted NJ Transit rail operations, impacting approximately 350,000 daily commuters. Engineers walked off the job just after midnight on May 16, citing a more than five-year dispute over wages.
The strike ended on May 18 after a weekend of intense negotiations between NJ Transit and union leaders. Service resumed following the announcement of a tentative agreement.
💰 Wage Dispute: The Core of the Conflict
The primary conflict centered on wage increases. NJ Transit insisted on keeping salaries in line with contracts for its 14 other unionized labor groups, citing the risk of activating “me too” clauses that could inflate payroll costs.
But locomotive engineers argued that their wages needed to be competitive with regional railroads, or else NJ Transit risked losing talent to other transportation systems in the Northeast.
How NJ Transit and the BLET found a solution without triggering similar demands from other unions remains unclear. Experts speculate that concessions in work rules may have allowed higher base salaries without breaching the broader budget constraints.
🗳️ Previous Agreement Rejected
This isn’t the first time a tentative contract was reached. A prior deal struck in March 2024 narrowly averted a strike but was overwhelmingly rejected by union members in the following weeks, reigniting tensions that led to the May work stoppage.
✅ What’s Next?
The next key step is formal approval by NJ Transit’s Board, expected to occur during the July 17 meeting. If passed, the contract will officially take effect and mark a resolution to a long-standing labor dispute that nearly paralyzed regional transportation.
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The answer will be self-driving trains. Think about it. There are no more elevator operators. Same limited scope of work, fixed route, set stops, etc.