NEW YORK (AP) — The Long Island Rail Road, the largest commuter rail network in North America, was brought to a halt on Saturday following a strike by unionized workers, marking the first strike in three decades.
The rail service, which connects New York City to eastern suburbs, ceased operations shortly after midnight when five unions, representing roughly half of its workforce, initiated a walkout.
Negotiations between the unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the public agency overseeing the railroad, had been ongoing for months without resolution, primarily due to disagreements over wages and healthcare benefits. While the administration of President Donald Trump attempted to mediate, the unions were legally permitted to strike starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday.
Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, stated that no further talks have been planned.
“We’re far apart at this point,” Sexton commented early Saturday. “We are truly sorry that we are in this situation.”
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber remarked that the agency had met all of the union’s pay demands, suggesting that the unions had always intended to strike.
First LIRR walkout since 1994
This strike, the first since a brief two-day stoppage in 1994, is expected to inconvenience sports fans heading to see the Yankees and Mets play or those attending the Knicks’ playoff games at Madison Square Garden, located above the railroad’s Penn Station terminal in Manhattan.
On Saturday, Penn Station’s usual hustle was absent, with only a few people seen in the concourse, many with luggage from inbound or outbound Amtrak trains, which are operating normally.
Departure boards that typically display upcoming train schedules instead showed “No Passengers.” Notices at customer service windows informed travelers of the strike-related shutdown.
Platform access was restricted with barriers and roll-down gates, while MTA police officers directed travelers to alternative transportation options.
Shutdown could severely disrupt weekday commuting
Should the strike continue into the workweek, approximately 250,000 daily commuters will need to find alternative routes from Long Island to New York City, potentially leading to congested roadways.
Governor Kathy Hochul accused the Trump administration of prematurely ending mediation, pushing the situation towards a strike. Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, denying involvement and claiming he was unaware of the strike until that morning.
“No, Kathy, it’s your fault, and now looking over the facts, you should not have allowed this to happen,” Trump wrote, reiterating his support for Bruce Blakeman, Hochul’s challenger in the upcoming election. “If you can’t solve it, let me know, and I’ll show you how to properly get things done.”
Hochul advised Long Islanders to work remotely if possible. The MTA plans to offer limited shuttle bus services to subway stations, though this was not intended to accommodate all weekday riders.
Despite the increased availability of remote working post-COVID-19, many still need to be physically present for work, explained Lisa Daglian, executive director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA.
“You work in construction, you work in the healthcare industry, you work at a school or you’re about to graduate from school, that’s not always possible,” she noted regarding telecommuting. “People need to get where they need to go.”
Dave Sumner, a veteran locomotive engineer, expects intervention from Trump or Congress if the strike persists.
“We’re pretty vital to this area,” he noted.
The MTA indicated that meeting the unions’ pay demands would necessitate fare hikes and could complicate other union negotiations.
The unions, representing various train workers, argue that higher wages are necessary to cope with inflation and rising living costs.
Duane O’Connor, picketing at Penn Station, expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to commuters, emphasizing the demand for fair wages.
“I feel terrible. Terrible. This is going to hurt. This is going to hurt the island, this is going to hurt the city … All we are asking for is fair wages,” he said.
“We’re pretty much three years without a contract,” said Karl Bischoff, a long-time locomotive engineer. “If they did their contracts for their construction stuff like that, this place would be in worse condition.”
Gerard Bringmann, chair of the LIRR Commuter Council, warned that the requested pay hikes could double the planned 4% fare increase to 8%, further burdening riders already struggling with high living costs.
With Hochul seeking reelection, pressure may be on the MTA to resolve the strike, according to William Dwyer, a labor relations expert at Rutgers University. He noted that Long Island holds significant electoral importance for her campaign.
“She’s up for reelection, and Long Island is a critical vote for her,” he said. “So if there’s a significant fare hike, that does not bode well for her on Election Day.”
