Train service resumed across New Jersey today after a three-day strike that disrupted thousands of daily commuters to New York. The strike, which began just after midnight Thursday, was NJ Transit’s first major work stoppage in more than 40 years. NJ Transit, the third-largest transit system in the U.S., serves more than 700.000 daily riders.
Tentative Agreement Reached, Services to Begin on Tuesday
NJ Transit announced Sunday that it had reached a tentative agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Train Workers union, which represents 450 engineers. But service will only resume Tuesday for safety checks and system readiness. That means riders won’t immediately be able to resume normal service even if the strike ends.
The agency is set to release its emergency plan on Monday, which will include enhanced bus routes and special shuttles from four satellite facilities. Officials are still advising passengers to work remotely because of limited capacity.
Terms of the contract have not yet been disclosed and union members must approve the deal. The union rejected a previous offer in April, which led to the walkout.
Strike Causes Massive Outages in State
Officials have warned that bus service is not a substitute for full rail operations, and NJ Transit’s infrastructure needs time for thorough inspections before it can safely resume train service.
Gov. Phil Murphy praised the deal, saying it benefits workers, commuters and taxpayers, while union leaders emphasized the importance of competitive wages.
Tom Haas, the union’s NJ Transit president, said the new deal improves hourly wages beyond previous offers. Haas had faulted transit officials for walking out of talks before Thursday’s strike.
State officials have argued that budget constraints prevent them from meeting union demands, while the union has emphasized that its goal is to achieve pay parity with engineers on nearby commuter rail systems.
The full resumption of train service on Tuesday will provide relief to frustrated riders and signal the end of this high-impact labor dispute in New Jersey’s public transit system, once again highlighting the critical impact of public transportation on city life and the economy.
