Long Island Rail Road Strike Halts Service for 250,000 Daily Riders

North America’s largest commuter rail system shut down Saturday morning after five unions representing roughly 3,700 workers went on strike. m. after months of negotiations failed to produce a new contract. The unions include locomotive engineers, machinists, signalmen, electricians and ticket clerks.

Workers had been legally permitted to strike beginning Saturday. No new bargaining sessions have been scheduled.

Talks broke down over wages and health care premiums. The unions sought a 5% raise for the final year of the next contract. MTA officials said they could not meet the demand without raising fares. MTA chairman Janno Lieber said the agency had offered the unions everything they requested on pay.

He stated that it appeared the unions had planned to walk out regardless. Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said the two sides remained far apart. “We’re far apart at this point,” Sexton said early Saturday.

Riders who normally use the rail line now face longer drives on already congested roads or limited shuttle buses to subway stations. Gov. Kathy Hochul urged Long Islanders to work from home if possible. She blamed the Trump administration for ending mediation too soon.

President Trump said on Truth Social that the governor was at fault. “No Kathy, it’s your fault, and now looking at the facts, you should not have allowed this to happen,” he wrote. Duane O’Connor, a picketer at Penn Station, said workers simply wanted fair wages after years of inflation.

“All we are asking for is fair wages,” O’Connor said. “Record inflation the last few years. ” Gerard Bringmann, chair of the LIRR Commuter Council, warned that any large pay increase would likely double next year’s planned 4% fare hike. He said riders already face rising living costs on Long Island.

The MTA said it would run limited shuttle buses, though the plan was not designed to handle full weekday ridership. Many essential workers in construction, health care and education cannot work remotely.