The union representing NJ TRANSIT’s 450 locomotive engineers voted on Tuesday to accept a seven-year labor contract, retroactive to 2020, which was negotiated after a three-day strike over wages in May halted trains and disrupted the daily commutes of 100,000 riders.
Kris Kolluri, president and CEO of NJ TRANSIT, said in a statement the contract approved by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) was “fair and fiscally responsible,” but did not elaborate on the specifics.
“From the outset, Governor Murphy and I were clear that any agreement must balance fair compensation with budgetary discipline—and this contract delivers on both,” Kolluri said.
The union issued a statement Tuesday, saying the new contract covering the years 2020-2027 would raise wages to “over $50 an hour” and provide engineers with retroactive increases and signing bonuses. The union said 89% of its members voted on the contract with 398 in favor (95%) and 21 opposed (5%).
“This is a member-driven union,” BLET National President Mark Wallace said. “Our members told us through an earlier vote that they wanted parity with engineers at Amtrak and other passenger railroads that share the same train platforms.”
Originally, bargaining teams for the union and NJ TRANSIT reached a tentative deal in March that was overwhelmingly rejected by the rank and file in April. When a new agreement was not reached before the union’s May 16 strike deadline, the engineers walked off the job. The work stoppage lasted three days, but trains were idle for four days because NJ TRANSIT needed to inspect equipment and rail lines before service could resume after the strike.
NJ TRANSIT’s Board of Directors will vote on the new contract at its next meeting, July 17.
