NEW YORK (AP) — Workers on New York's Long Island Rail Road are on strike, union officials announced early Saturday, disrupting the busiest commuter rail system in North America.
The labor unions, representing approximately half of the system's 7,000 workers, declared the strike after negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) ended without agreement on a new contract. The unions include locomotive engineers, machinists, and signalmen, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing dispute.
Kevin Sexton, National Vice President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, commented that there are no new negotiations planned and expressed regret over the situation. We’re far apart at this point, Sexton stated.
The strike has forced around 250,000 daily riders to seek alternate transportation to New York City or work from home, leading to increased traffic on already congested roads. Janno Lieber, MTA chairman, accused the union of walking out despite the authority meeting several pay demands. He stated, It was apparent the unions always intended to walk out.
Commuters are expressing frustration, with many fearing that the situation will worsen, especially during the weekend as sports fans venture into Manhattan for upcoming games. Governor Kathy Hochul urged riders to consider remote work while the MTA attempts to provide limited shuttle services for essential workers.
Both the MTA and unions claim the strike centers around disagreements over wage increases and health care premiums. Unions demanded a 16% raise over four years to keep pace with inflation, while the MTA countered that fulfilling these demands would necessitate fare increases.
The last LIRR strike occurred in 1994, lasting just two days, amid ongoing discussions aiming to resolve labor disputes without impacting commuters.
