NJ Transit Engineers Strike Halts Rail Service, Disrupting 350,000 Commuters

NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Transit’s rail system ground to a halt early Friday, May 16, 2025, as locomotive engineers walked off the job, marking the first strike in over 40 years for the nation’s third-largest transit agency. The labor action, spurred by failed contract negotiations over wages, has left an estimated 350,000 daily commuters in New Jersey and New York City scrambling for alternatives, causing widespread disruption across the region.

The strike began at 12:01 a.m. after marathon talks between NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) collapsed Thursday night. Picket lines formed by 4 a.m. outside transit headquarters in Newark and at Hoboken Terminal, with engineers carrying signs reading “Locomotive Engineers on Strike” and “NJ Transit: Millions for Penthouse Views, Nothing for Train Crews,” according to reports from WESH. The union, representing approximately 450 engineers, has been negotiating for over five years, with no contract in place since 2019.

Wage Disputes at the Core

The central issue is wages. BLET is pushing for salaries comparable to those at other regional commuter railroads, such as Amtrak, Long Island Railroad, SEPTA, and Metro-North, where engineers earn roughly 20% more, per Yahoo News. NJ Transit engineers currently start at $39.78 per hour, with average annual earnings of $135,000, though top earners can exceed $200,000, according to NJ Transit’s statements. The union, however, seeks an average salary of $170,000 annually, a demand NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri argues is unsustainable, citing potential “me too” clauses that could force similar raises for 14 other unions, as reported by Reuters.

A tentative agreement reached in March, which included a pay increase to $49.82 per hour by summer, was rejected by 87% of BLET’s rank-and-file members, highlighting deep dissatisfaction. “We presented them the last proposal, they rejected it and walked away with two hours left on the clock,” said BLET General Chair Tom Haas, as quoted by Yahoo News. Kolluri, however, emphasized the need for a deal “fair to employees and affordable to New Jersey’s commuters and taxpayers,” according to AP News.

Commuter Chaos and Contingency Plans

The strike has paralyzed rail service, affecting routes connecting New York City’s Penn Station to northern New Jersey communities and Newark Liberty International Airport. Commuters face a “logistical nightmare,” with NJ Transit’s contingency plan offering limited relief. Starting Monday, the agency will enhance select bus routes near rail stations and contract private carriers to operate from four regional park-and-ride lots, but this will accommodate only about 20% of rail passengers, per The New York Times. Metro-North will cross-honor NJ Transit tickets on certain lines, and premium bus services like Boxcar have expanded schedules, but capacity remains strained.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has deployed additional staff to manage crowding at Midtown Bus Terminal, while NYC Emergency Management warns of delays and limited transit options. “I’m hoping it boils over, by Sunday they sign their contracts, and back to work on Monday,” one commuter told CBS New York. The strike’s timing also complicates travel for events like Shakira’s concerts at MetLife Stadium, with NJ Transit preemptively canceling related services to avoid stranding attendees.

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