Long Island Rail Road Strike Enters Second Day as Negotiations Resume

A strike by Long Island Rail Road workers entered its second day Monday after negotiations between the unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority failed to produce an agreement overnight. New York officials urged commuters to work from home as the walkout disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of riders across the region.

The LIRR, which carries hundreds of thousands of riders between Long Island and New York City, shut down service Saturday morning.

Unions representing roughly 3,500 LIRR workers walked off the job after talks broke down Friday night. The two sides had been negotiating a new contract since 2023, with disagreements centered on wages and healthcare premiums. The unions said the sides were separated by less than 1 percentage point before talks collapsed.

They pointed to recommendations from two presidential emergency boards that supported stronger wage increases.

Emergency Measures and Public Response Gov.

Kathy Hochul said the state and the MTA were preparing emergency transit alternatives, including shuttle buses from Long Island into Queens and additional subway service. "Let's face the facts: It's impossible to fully replace LIRR service," Hochul told reporters at a news conference Sunday.

m. Monday from six locations across Nassau and Suffolk counties to subway connections in Queens. Officials repeatedly urged commuters who can work remotely to stay home during the strike.

Union members on the picket line said they were fighting for fair wages amid rising living costs. Eric Martin, a locomotive engineer with 24 years of experience, said the workers would remain on strike as long as necessary to reach a resolution. MTA officials have blamed union leadership for walking away from negotiations, saying the transit agency remained willing to continue bargaining.

The unions accused MTA leadership of forcing a shutdown by refusing to agree to wage increases after years without raises. "We made it clear we are available if they want to come back and negotiate," MTA CEO Janno Lieber said. " The unions said workers deserve a fair contract that recognizes their contributions.

IAM Union International President Brian Bryant said the strike was completely avoidable and the coalition remains ready to negotiate at any time. Hochul defended the MTA's position, saying the agency could not agree to labor demands that would force steep fare hikes and higher taxes.

She said New York is a pro-labor state but the MTA cannot agree to a contract that would raise fares as much as 8 percent.