the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, after a disruptive weekend strike, NJ TRANSIT rail service, including Metro-North service west of the Hudson, will fully resume on Tuesday, May 20, starting with the first scheduled train on each line. Limited contingency service will remain in effect through Monday, May 19.
Riders are encouraged to visit njtransit.com/restart for the latest service details and updated schedules.
End of NJ Transit Rail Strike Announced
The strike, which began at midnight on Friday, May 17, halted all NJ TRANSIT rail lines in the first statewide railroad strike since 1983. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) led the walkout following a breakdown in contract negotiations with NJ TRANSIT.
On Sunday, May 18, both sides reached a tentative agreement, effectively ending the strike and clearing the way for service restoration in time for the new work week.
Key Details of the Tentative Deal
Though the contract terms remain confidential until reviewed by union members, BLET officials confirmed that wages were the central issue. The agreement reportedly exceeds previous wage proposals, while also offering NJ TRANSIT cost-effective strategies for recruitment and retention without triggering a fare hike.
“We were able to show management ways to boost engineers’ wages that will help NJT with retention and recruitment, without causing any significant budget issue or requiring a fare increase,” said Tom Haas, BLET’s general chairman at NJ Transit.
The tentative agreement must still be ratified by union members and approved by the NJ Transit board, with a vote expected during the board’s next meeting on June 11.
Congressional Support and Labor Relations
The national BLET organization praised Congress for not intervening under the Railway Labor Act, stating that a hands-off approach gave both parties the space to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.
“Allowing strikes to happen encourages settlement rather than stonewalling,” noted Mark Wallace, BLET National President.
Prior to this deal, NJ TRANSIT engineers were the lowest-paid among major U.S. commuter railroads, despite working in one of the nation’s most expensive metro regions.
Positive Impact on Commuters and Events
The strike’s end comes just in time for thousands of commuters and eventgoers, including Beyoncé fans heading to MetLife Stadium for her five-show run starting Thursday. With full service back in place, attendees will now have a convenient rail option to reach the venue.
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Driverless trucks, but not trains?
thank the unions. when I commuted to school there was always an ‘extra’ do-nothing person in the cab. Upon inquiring I found out it was the ‘fireman’ whose job is to shovel coal. Despite being upgrade to diesel, these lackeys couldnt bother to become engineers. We all paid for it. Its called union ‘featherbedding ‘. Its like a building in NYC being required to maintain ‘elevator operators’ despite push buttons being more modern.
How about cleaning up all the trash on the trackside