NJ Transit, BLET reach tentative agreement; rail service to resume Tuesday

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and New Jersey Transit yesterday announced a tentative agreement, ending a three-day rail stoppage that began May 16.

Rail service will resume Tuesday, after full inspections and preparations are done. Details of the tentative agreement were not disclosed, in order for the ratification process to occur, NJ Transit officials said in a press release. However, fares will not be increased, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said.

The strike began May 16, disrupting rail transportation for hundreds of thousands of commuters.

"I will say that the only real issue was wages and we were able to reach an agreement that boosts hourly pay beyond the proposal rejected by our members last month and beyond where we were when NJ Transit’s managers walked away from the table Thursday evening,” said Tom Haas, BLET general chairman at NJ Transit.

BLET members will begin voting on the agreement soon. NJ Transit's board is expected to approve the agreement at its June 11 meeting.