• New Jersey Transit engineers reached a tentative deal ending a strike after 40 years.
• The strike affected around 350,000 daily commuters needing to travel to New York City.
• Train services are set to resume on Tuesday, following necessary infrastructure inspections.
• The main issues in negotiations revolved around wage increases for the engineers.
• Governor Murphy praised the agreement for balancing employee pay and budget concerns.

New Jersey Transit engineers, represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, have reached a tentative agreement to end the state’s first transit strike in over 40 years, which began early Friday morning. The work stoppage halted services for approximately 350,000 daily riders, forcing many to seek alternative transportation methods, including buses and taxis, to reach locations such as New York City. Train services are expected to resume on Tuesday, pending infrastructure inspections, as confirmed by officials from NJ Transit. This historic strike was sparked by disputes over wage increases following a period where engineers had gone five years without a pay raise, according to India Times and New York Times.

After the strike commenced, immediate efforts were made to negotiate a resolution, including meetings between union representatives and NJ Transit officials. The dispute centered around ensuring fair wages that align with those at neighboring transit agencies. As the union sought higher pay to retain staff, NJ Transit argued that such increments could potentially lead to increased costs for riders and taxpayers, as noted by the NJ Transit CEO during the negotiations. Overall, the agreement aims to increase hourly pay without jeopardizing the agency's financial stability, according to ABC News and Reuters.

Governor Phil Murphy, who spoke on the tentative deal’s implications, emphasized the importance of reaching a resolution that benefits employees while considering the financial constraints of commuters. He expressed hope for a swift ratification process among union members, who previously rejected an earlier proposal. The union has indicated that the terms of the new agreement will be shared with its members for further review before an official ratification vote. The strike not only caused significant disruption to daily commuters but also brought attention to long-standing issues regarding engineer compensation at NJ Transit, as reported by Los Angeles Times and India Times.