Locomotive engineers represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), who keep NJ Transit’s trains running for the nation’s third largest commuter railroad, have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. If the contract is ratified by the engineers and approved by NJ Transit’s board, it will end five years of contract talks that at times involved federal mediation and recommendations by two Presidential Emergency Boards.
The tentative 8-year contract governs about 500 BLET members and covers the period from 2020 through 2027. If ratified, the total wage package will narrow the pay gap between NJ Transit engineers and those at other commuter railroads.
“Having the new NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri at the bargaining table brought a new perspective to the issues that were in dispute. With his assistance, we were able to reach a tentative agreement worthy of the membership’s vote,” said BLET National Vice President James P. Louis.
Vice President Louis also said: “Included in the proposed contract is the first in the nation commuter technology agreement for the introduction of electronic information to be used by NJ Transit locomotive engineers. This will help ensure that engineers that transport hundreds of thousands of commuters to and from their destinations have the most current information to safety operate their trains.”
On an average weekday, 195,000 passengers will take NJ Transit trains.
The National Division will distribute ballots and copies of the tentative agreement next week. Votes will be counted on April 15, 2025.