Long Island Rail Road Strike Enters Third Day Affecting 300,000 Commuters

For the first time in 32 years, Long Island Rail Road service stopped at midnight on Saturday after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and five unions failed to reach a new contract agreement. More than 300,000 daily commuters who use the railroad to travel between Long Island and New York City are affected.

State and local officials warned that New York City buses and subways would be crowded on Monday.

Negotiations and Positions New York Gov.

Kathy Hochul urged the MTA and the unions to return to the bargaining table. The National Mediation Board summoned both sides to a meeting on Sunday afternoon, and negotiations resumed Monday morning. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said he expected his borough to become a bottleneck during rush hours because the MTA plans to use shuttle buses to transport essential workers from Long Island to subway stations in Queens.

MTA CEO Janno Leiber said during a Sunday press conference that the unions' demands would force riders to pay the cost of a labor settlement that would exceed the MTA budget. Leiber added that the unions rejected every idea the MTA put on the table.

Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said the sides are far apart on salary increases and health care costs. 5 percent over four years, while the MTA has offered slightly smaller increases plus a lump-sum payment.

Hochul said commuters will be allowed to park in the Citi Field parking lot, which is within walking distance of the 7 train. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked subway riders to be patient and prepare for heavier traffic and additional travel time.

The unions stated that talks broke down when the MTA added healthcare issues to the table in the final hour before the midnight deadline. Leiber called that assertion complete nonsense.