Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike starting Saturday as of 12:01 a.m. after failing to reach a new contract deal with the MTA. The union is pushing for higher pay, but MTA leaders warn about fare hikes. Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the unions and President Trump in her statement. Shuttle buses will be rolled out as a contingency plan for commuters affected by the shutdown.
Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday after not reaching a new contract deal with the MTA . Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday, after not reaching a new contract deal with the MTA .
The union representing LIRR workers is pushing for higher pay, but MTA leaders warn that agreeing to those demands could trigger significant fare hikes. The MTA is now rolling out a contingency plan that includes shuttle buses to help move riders. Some 250,000 commuters are impacted by the shutdown. New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement early Saturday critical of the unions and President Trump.
"These unions represent the highest-paid workers of any railroad in the nation, yet they are demanding contracts that could raise fares as much as 8%, pit workers against one another, and risk tax hikes for Long Islanders. This is unacceptable. My priority is protecting affordability for riders and ensuring fairness across the workforce," she wrote.
""The disruption that Long Islanders face starting tonight is the direct result of reckless actions by the Trump Administration to cut mediation short and push these negotiations toward a strike. "MTA Chairman Janno Lieber spoke after contract negotiations ended without a deal at midnight, saying,"The MTA board cannot responsibly make a deal that implodes the budget. "Union leaders held an update after failing to reach a deal with the MTA on a new contract by the Saturday midnight deadline.
Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike after failing to reach a new contract deal with the MTA by the deadline of 12:01 a.m. Saturday, crippling the largest commuter rail system in the nation. No further talks are scheduled at this point and picketing will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday at Penn Station and Ronkonkoma Station.
The railroad is completely shut down, but trains that had begun their trips before the midnight deadline will reach their final destinations so that no passengers are left stranded.
"While some progress had been made toward a settlement earlier in the evening MTA refused to close the gap and toward the end of the night management clearly wanted to provoke a strike than settle by adding healthcare takeaways and other issues to the table literally in the 11th hour that had never been raised previously," the unions said in a press release. Union leaders held an update after failing to reach a deal with the MTA on a new contract by the Saturday midnight deadline.
Kevin Sexton of the National Vice President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen said no new negotiations have been scheduled. Janno Lieber, the CEO of the MTA, said the strike was "obviously not the result we are looking for" and that everyone loses with a strike. He said the MTA board cannot responsibly make a deal that implodes the budget, saying the agency fought hard to get back on a solid financial footing.
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber spoke after contract negotiations ended without a deal at midnight, saying,"The MTA board cannot responsibly make a deal that implodes the budget.
"Lieber said it was shocking the unions depicting workers as underpaid. Lieber said it became apparent the unions always wanted to strike. The strike will force the roughly 250,000 people who ride the system each weekday to find alternative routes into New York City from its Long Island suburbs or to work from home. That means more cars on traffic-choked highways and longer work commutes.
The union has demanded a total raise of 16% over four years, saying it is needed to help workers keep up with inflation and rising living costs. The MTA argued that the union's initial demands would lead to fare increases.
The authority has agreed to a pay raise of at least 9.5% over the next three years, plus what would effectively amount to a 4.5% raise in year four.2 men dead after out-of-control driver strikes parked cars, pedestrians on Upper West SideLIRR morning commute may be impacted at Penn Station after electrical fire in tunnel
Labor Relations Government Long Island Rail Road Strike Contract Deal MTA Union Higher Pay MTA Leaders Governor Kathy Hochul Contingency Plan Impacted Commuters Governor Hochul's Statement Union Leaders MTA Chairman Janno Lieber Trump Administration Mediation Short Unions As Underpaid Fare Hikes Pay Raise Shipping
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