LIRR UPDATES: LIRR unions and MTA summoned to meet in effort to resume bargaining on Day 2 of LIRR strike
Train service at all Long Island Rail Road stations is continues to be suspended. Check back here for the latest developments.
Train service at all Long Island Rail Road stations is suspended as workers walked off the job early Saturday morning, shutting down the system on the first morning of a strike.
News 12 will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
10:10 p.m.
LIRR unions and MTA summoned to meet in effort to resume bargaining on Day 2 of LIRR strike
by Jenna Rae Gaertner
The National Mediation Board summoned the five Long Island Rail Road unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to a meeting in Manhattan to resume bargaining on Day 2 of the LIRR strike.
The presidential review board summoned both sides to meet at the MTA headquarters just after 6 p.m.
The unions and MTA have been bargaining for years.
They agreed on the raise for the first three years of this contract, but they were still trying to agree on the fourth year as of Sunday night.
The unions want a 5% salary increase and MTA offered 3%, plus the difference between the 3% and 5% in a one-time cash payment.
The presidential review board suggested a 4.5% increase. The MTA still offered the 3%, plus lump sum payment.
News 12 previously reported that the two sides got close to an agreement and were within 1% when MTA offer went up.
Part of their new deal, however, was to require new union hires to contribute more to their health plan than current union members.
That's when the unions called for a strike.
Both MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber and Gov. Kathy Hochul were asked on Sunday about renewing talks. They said it was on the unions since they walked out.
Hochul, however said during a news conference on Sunday that she was open to the unions to come back.
The MTA has said that it will take time to get trains back up and running, even if a deal is reached. This means riders should prepare for disruptions to their commute on Monday morning.
Stay with News 12 for updates on this developing story.
6:15 p.m. - The National Mediation Board has summoned Long Island Rail Road unions and MTA management to meet in an effort to resume bargaining on Day 2 of the LIRR strike.
NYC Mayor Mamdani posted more information ahead of Monday on X.
LIRR Strike Day 2
The LIRR worker strike stretches into a second day Sunday, pushing Long Islanders closer to a disrupted Monday commute.
5:05 p.m. - The MTA says the shutdown could impact hundreds of thousands of commuters across the region.
by Jeremy Skiba
The clock is ticking toward the first workday of the Long Island Rail Road strike, with no trains expected to run if a deal is not reached. The MTA says the shutdown could impact hundreds of thousands of commuters across the region.
On Sunday morning, Governor Kathy Hochul extended what she called an “official invitation” for union leaders to return to the bargaining table in hopes of ending the strike before the Monday commute.
Union leaders say they are prepared to negotiate.
“We have all of our general chairmen in Manhattan waiting to do so,” said Steven Schmidtt, president of IBEW Local 589. “I am waiting for word from them on that part.”
Governor Hochul says three days of a strike would erase every dollar of additional salary union workers would get under a new contract.
“We don’t need to be here,” Hochul said. “Workers deserve better, but also New Yorkers deserve better.”
Workers on the picket lines say the fight is about more than wages; it’s about the future of the railroad and the people who keep it running.
“This is about the vitality for the job in the long term,” said locomotive engineer Michael Colucci. “Making sure there is a fair and equitable contract and a future for the next generation of workers.”
“It’s the men in the field with the blood, sweat and tears that are keeping the rails and the lines and commuters safe,” said Daniel Mullay, a signal inspector.
Meanwhile, Governor Hochul is urging employers to allow remote work and make accommodations for workers affected by the strike.
For commuters like Corey Antola, flexibility from employers is making a difficult situation more manageable.
“I’ll be working from another office that is out here on Long Island,” Antola said. “Just drive there. It’s not too bad. Luckily, I’m able to do that and not everyone is.”
Despite the ongoing standoff, Hochul said she believes a deal can still be reached, adding, “We’re ready for this.”
12:05 p.m. - Crowds return to LIRR picket line for second day
by Jeremy Skiba
A large crowd of striking workers returned for a second day of demonstrations, with organizers estimating that more than 200 people gathered at the picket line Sunday.
Workers have been on site since 7 a.m. and plan to remain until 7 p.m., chanting throughout the day and calling for a new contract agreement.
The atmosphere intensified as demonstrators crowded around to watch Governor Kathy Hochul’s latest press conference addressing the ongoing labor dispute.
During her remarks, Hochul urged both the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and union leaders to return to the bargaining table in hopes of reaching a deal.
The governor also warned that the ongoing strike could jeopardize workers’ chances at securing fairer wages if negotiations continue to stall.
As the disruption continues, Hochul encouraged commuters to work from home whenever possible and asked employers to provide accommodations for employees affected by the strike.
11:37 a.m. Hochul said she hopes the strike “does not go on long.”
11:36 a.m. “We’re ready for this,” Hochul said about alternative transportation systems in place ahead of Monday morning’s commute.
11:33 a.m. Hochul extended an “official invitation” to union leaders to return to the bargaining table.
11:32 a.m. Hochul questioned union leaders, saying, “They walked out and went on strike,” and asked where they were Friday night.
11:30 a.m. Hochul said there is “no legal mechanism” to overturn congestion pricing and said the strike should not be turned into a campaign event. Possibly in reference to gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, who held a press conference Sunday morning to call for the suspension of congestion pricing during the strike.
11:27 a.m. MTA New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said there is ample capacity and "plenty of subway lines" to handle “any influx” of commuters including at busy stations like Jamaica and Flushing.
11:25 a.m. LIRR President Rob Free reiterated there are bus service plans and Long Island pickup locations.
11:24 a.m. Hochul said MTA officials remained in discussions with union leaders up to the deadline, but said the union criticized their ideas.
11:22 a.m. Hochul said she believes “a deal can be reached.”
11:21 a.m. She warned the strike could impact affordability for commuters.
11:20 a.m. Hochul said the strike might have been avoided if not for what she called a “highly unusual” move by the Trump administration to release unions from mediation.
11:19 a.m. She encouraged commuters to work from home if possible and asked employers to allow remote work.
11:18 a.m. Hochul said extra subway trains are on standby and additional service can be deployed if needed, while acknowledging it is “impossible to replace LIRR service.”
11:16 a.m. “No one wins in a strike — everyone is hurt,” Hochul said, emphasizing the vital role of LIRR workers.
11:15 a.m. Gov. Kathy Hochul was joined by LIRR President Rob Free, MTA New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow and MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber to brief commuters on the LIRR strike.
Watch part of the press conference here:
At the press conference, Blakeman said the strike is causing regional gridlock and costing 61-million-dollars a day.
10:15 a.m. - Bruce Blakeman, who is challenging Hochul for governor, joined State Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra in calling for a suspension of congestion pricing during the strike.
Watch the full interview:
8:05 a.m. Lieber said the MTA "put new ideas on the table" during negotiation talks Friday night.
8:01 a.m. - Lieber did not say when MTA and union officials will meet next to continue negotiations. "We remain available if they're serious about negotiating," he said.
8 a.m. - News 12 speaks with MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber.
LIRR Strike Day 1
6:10 p.m. - LIRR strike halts service, strands riders as workers walk off job
By Logan Crawford
More than 100 Long Island Rail Road workers picketed early Saturday at Ronkonkoma Station as a systemwide strike shut down train service across Long Island.
Typically one of the island’s busiest hubs, the station stood quiet with no trains running.
“We want a contract that’s fair and equitable to be able to live here on Long Island and support our families. We’re everybody’s neighbor, parishioner, family and friend," said Michael Colucci, an engine service coordinator.
About 3,500 union workers walked off the job, halting all LIRR service for the first time since 1994. The shutdown impacts more than 200,000 daily riders who rely on the railroad for transportation.
“I take the train fairly often, just like any Long Islander,” said Kenny Stallone of Holtsville. “But to see no trains running is very surprising.”
A union representative said negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) broke down shortly before the strike deadline after years of contract talks.
Colucci said concerns include proposed changes to health care provisions for new employees.
“The last thing we want to do is sell out the new employee, because then this job has no future for anybody,” he said.
Workers on the picket line acknowledged the toll of the shutdown.
“We’re sorry that it had to come to this point,” one railroad worker said.
The worker who asked not to be named said the strike has left employees struggling as well.
“I’m unemployed at this point to be here on strike. My medical has ended. I have no income,” she said.
Both the MTA and union officials said there are no further negotiations currently scheduled.
“If we get a phone call or a message saying we’re in the room and things are moving forward, we will drop these texts and posts and go out there and do our job,” Colucci said.
An MTA spokesperson said there were no updates on contract talks. Workers said they plan to return to Ronkonkoma on Sunday to continue their push for what they call a fair contract.
Train service at all Long Island Rail Road stations is suspended as workers walk off the job early Saturday morning, shutting down the system on the first morning of a strike. News 12 is following all developments closely.
6:04 p.m. - LIRR workers picket outside Atlantic Terminal
By Karina Gerry
Long Island Rail Road workers picketed outside Atlantic terminal Saturday on Day 1 of the LIRR strike.
Union leaders announced the strike just after midnight after they failed to come to an agreement with the MTA.
Five unions were at the negotiation table on Friday night. They represent over half of the 7,000 workers that included locomotive engineers, machinists and signalmen.
The fight boils down to pay.
An agreement was reached for a retroactive 9.5% raise for the last three years but talks stalled after they failed to agree on a raise for this year. Representatives for the unions say they are asking for a 5% raise starting this year because of inflation and the cost of living in the tri-state area.
"We took some hits to do a favor to the company during COVID to keep the trains moving. We took some low deals with kind of a promise that in the future they would take care of us," said Michael Sullivan, General Chairman of Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.
The MTA says a 5% raise is out of their budget and they are unwilling to increase fare.
Union representatives that were at Friday night's meeting say there was no meeting scheduled with the MTA as of Saturday evening.
5:17 p.m. - 'The railroad strike is just affecting everything': Drivers and commuters scramble in wake of LIRR strike
By Jeremy Skiba
The Long Island Rail Road strike is disrupting travel plans across Long Island, with commuters and weekend travelers scrambling to adjust.
Joseph Maxwell, of Massapequa, said he had planned to take the train to Citi Field for Saturday’s Subway Series game, but with rail service shut down during the strike, the trip no longer feels worth it.
“The railroad strike is just affecting everything right now,” Maxwell said.
Instead, he says driving into Queens would be “torture” because of expected traffic and congestion.
Others are already changing their schedules to avoid delays.
Katie Hess left home hours earlier than normal Saturday morning for a drive to Connecticut, hoping to avoid heavier traffic.
“We're trying to avoid traffic this morning for an appointment later, so that's causing some issues,” Hess said.
Hess also worries the strike could complicate upcoming job interviews in New York City, which will also force her to drive and deal with expensive and limited parking options.
“I'm going to have to drive in and then you think about parking,” she said. “Parking is already a disaster wherever you are going in the city. Fingers crossed I find somewhere to go.”
Elisha Watkins, who commutes from Queens to Long Island for work, said Saturday was the first time he learned about the strike. Even so, he plans to stick to his normal routine.
“I don't know what is wrong with the Southern (State Parkway), but I can only imagine how much worse that will get with this whole delay,” Watkins said.
4:44 p.m. - For fans headed to Citi Field for the Subway Series Saturday evening, there are travel alternatives.
The Citi Field Direct Shuttle offers affordable bus service from parking areas around the region, including Westchester, The Bronx and New Jersey. Additional shuttles were added due to the strike. The pick-up locations include:
Roosevelt Field
Walt Whitman Shops
The Mall at Bay Plaza
Manhasset LIRR Station serving the Port Washington Line
Paramus Park
Newport Centre Mall
Otherwise, fans are encouraged to ride-share and to take advantage of pick-up and drop-off points. These locations include:
Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue
Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike
Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard
Sheepshead Bay
Woodhaven Boulevard
2:54 p.m. - President Trump posted about the strike on Truth Social, saying in part, "Failed New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, a Dumacrat, just blamed ME for her Long Island Railroad STRIKE, when she knows, full well, that I have NOTHING TO DO WITH IT - never even heard about it until this morning."
1:53 p.m. - MTA president says LIRR workers are among 'highest paid railroad workers in the country'
MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber says the agency will not agree to any deal that shifts the cost of wage increases onto riders or taxpayers.
During a press conference outside Penn Station early Saturday morning, Lieber calls LIRR workers "the highest paid railroad workers in the country."
He continues to say that the average wage of an LIRR employee is about $136,000.
"It is shocking that they are representing that they are underpaid, given their history of gobbling up overtime," said Lieber.
10:50 a.m. - For fans headed to Citi Field for the Subway Series Saturday evening, there are travel alternatives.
The Citi Field Direct Shuttle offers affordable bus service from parking areas around the region, including Westchester, The Bronx and New Jersey. Additional shuttles were added due to the strike. The pick-up locations include:
Roosevelt Field
Walt Whitman Shops
The Mall at Bay Plaza
Manhasset LIRR Station serving the Port Washington Line
Paramus Park
Newport Centre Mall
Otherwise, fans are encouraged to ride-share and to take advantage of pick-up and drop-off points. These locations include:
Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue
Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike
Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard
Sheepshead Bay
Woodhaven Boulevard
8:12 a.m. - Picketing workers gathered outside the Ronkonkoma station, calling for increased wages. About 3,500 employees have joined the strike, leaving the railroad completely shut down.
The disruption is impacting more than 200,000 Long Islanders who rely on the trains for daily transportation.
According to the union, no negotiations are currently planned between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and labor leaders, leaving the timeline for restoring service uncertain.
5:15 a.m. - It is advised to check current station alerts on the Long Island Rail Road website.
Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement following the LIRR strike.
Nassau County Exec. Blakeman also released a statement.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber also released a statement.
