New Jersey Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have agreed to an end to their three-day strike, allowing trains to resume operation on Tuesday morning. The agreement was reached on Sunday night, just days after the strike began.
The main sticking point between the two parties had been the engineers’ demand for equal pay with train drivers at other passenger railroads. An estimated $4 million daily cost to NJ Transit due to the strike has added to the pressure to reach an agreement.
Governor Philip D. Murphy announced the deal, saying it was “fair” to employees while also being affordable for commuters and taxpayers. The deal involves some concessions by the engineers on work rules that will help cover the cost of raises they sought.
Commuters expressed relief at the news, with many having had to find alternative ways to get to work during the strike. Jay Frederick, a prisoner’s commissary worker, said he was happy to have his usual commute back on track, while Chris Smith, an executive chef, criticized the speed of the deal, saying it was “selfish” and put thousands in stress.
NJ Transit will conduct safety inspections before service resumes, with buses running from satellite locations into New York City or to PATH stations serving commuters on Monday.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/nyregion/new-jersey-transit-strike-agreement.html