On Tuesday, June 25th, the National Mediation Board ended more than four years of negotiations between NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), setting the stage for a potential strike or lockout. The engineers have been working without a contract since 2019, and federal law has so far prevented any labor action.
With mediation concluded, a 30-day cooling-off period begins, allowing the union to strike as early as July 25. However, further delays are likely due to federal laws governing railway labor disputes. NJ Transit has indicated it will request a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) to intervene, which could extend the process by an additional 120 days or more.
BLET President Eddie Hall expressed frustration over the prolonged negotiations, stating, “It’s time for NJ Transit to make a fair offer and settle this dispute voluntarily, otherwise our members will be walking picket lines rather than operating trains.”
The union has unanimously voted to strike if a fair agreement is not reached.
NJ Transit engineers argue that they have endured five years without a pay raise amidst high inflation. Hall emphasized that the engineers continued to operate trains throughout the pandemic and now demand fair compensation for their work. He noted that the engineers are committed to serving the public but cannot continue under the current subpar wages.
Federal law requires the President to convene a PEB upon request from either party or an affected state governor. In this case, Governors Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Kathy Hochul of New York, and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania could all be involved. A PEB would impose a 120-day lockout on job actions, but the board could end the lockout sooner if a settlement is reached.
NJ Transit spokesman Jim Smith confirmed that the agency intends to formally request a PEB. The three governors have not yet commented on whether they will also request federal intervention.
The engineers’ union rejected an offer of binding arbitration, preferring instead to continue pushing for a negotiated settlement. As the dispute progresses, both NJ Transit and the BLET remain at an impasse over pay and working conditions, with significant implications for commuters and the region’s transportation infrastructure.
The potential strike comes at a critical time for NJ Transit as delays have riddled service for weeks, inconveniencing and stranding hundreds of thousands of commuters. The resolution of this dispute will be crucial in determining the future stability and reliability of NJ Transit’s rail services.
