LIRR strike begins after MTA fails to reach wage hike deal with union, disrupting 300K commuters
Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike early Saturday after Metropolitan Transportation Authority leaders failed to reach a deal on wage hikes with five labor unions.More than 3,500 LIRR workers across five unions, including engineers, signalmen and trainman, walked off the job at 12:01 a.m.Saturday after a heated drawn-out battle over pay raises, with union leaders arguing higher wages are needed to keep up with inflation.“The LIRR owns this strike,” Teamsters general president Sean M.
O’Brien said in a statement Saturday.“Union workers have sacrificed so much for the railroad for years while consistently bargaining in good faith for a fair contract.
The LIRR is stranding passengers while denying wages, benefits, and respect to the BLET Teamsters and other hardworking union members.”The work stoppage is expected to strand nearly 300,000 commuters, with limited shuttle buses available for essential workers and those who can’t telecommute on weekdays.MTA chief Janno Lieber and Gov.
Kathy Hochul told other riders to simply work from home.“LIRR service is suspended until further notice because of a strike,” the railroad wrote on X early Saturday.“Avoid nonessential travel and work from home if possible.
We will have limited shuttle bus service on weekdays for essential workers and those who cannot telecommute.”Union officials said they did everything the could to reach a deal but had no choice but to walk off the job.“To every LIRR passenger whose trip is disrupted, know that the MTA left us no choice but to strike,” said Gil Lang, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s (BLET) General Committee.“We don’t want to be on the picket line.
But after three years without raises, we cannot make anymore compromises to cover for the MTA’s mismanagement.”Lieber blasted the unions and claimed they rejected a fair proposal during the 11th-hour negotiations.“Our last offer literally gave them everythi...