NEWARK, N.J. — The potential for a strike or lockout by New Jersey Transit train engineers has emerged following the rejection of a labor agreement with management.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen disclosed on Tuesday that their members voted heavily against the deal finalized in March, with an 87% margin of disapproval. The Railway Labor Act sets the stage for a possible strike or management lockout beginning May 15, as stated by the union.
“Our members are frustrated,” expressed Tom Haas, the union’s General Chairman. “Alongside other NJ Transit engineers, I’ve ensured the continuous operation of our trains, yet we haven’t seen a salary increase since 2019. This has been a challenging period of high inflation and the pandemic, which sadly took some of our colleagues.”
Kris Kolluri, President and CEO of NJ Transit, expressed his disappointment over the agreement’s failure to pass with the union members, signaling his willingness to renegotiate. “I’m committed to achieving a fair and sustainable solution that benefits everyone and enables NJ TRANSIT to deliver dependable service that our customers rely on,” Kolluri stated.
A representative for Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, who oversees the agency, was also approached for potential remarks on Wednesday.
The details regarding the rejected agreement remain vague. An earlier statement during the agreement said there were plans for “reasonable wage increases” for union members and resolution of a persistent grievance. Kolluri took office as NJ Transit’s top executive in January. In response to the ongoing dispute, then-President Joe Biden issued an executive order last summer appointing a board to address the conflict. At that period, NJ Transit warned that a strike might be imminent as early as March 2025.
New Jersey Transit is responsible for bus and rail operations throughout the state, facilitating approximately 925,000 commuter journeys on weekdays, including routes into New York City. The labor disagreements trace back to 2019, when the engineers’ contract reached its expiration.