Nearly 300,000 Long Island Rail Road riders could face disrupted commutes as early as next Thursday, as unions threaten the agency’s first strike in nearly 30 years. Unions representing over 3,000 workers, or roughly half of the railroad’s workforce, could walk out on September 18 unless they receive higher raises than those already negotiated with the MTA, which says half of the workforce has already accepted the deal. Even a partial strike would halt all LIRR service, since striking employees include engineers, signalmen, and other essential staff.
Roughly 600 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are currently casting ballots on whether to strike as soon as September 18. Members of the Transportation Communications Union (TCU) and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) approved a potential strike last month, according to Crain’s.
The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen says it’s also weighing a strike vote. Together, these five unions—known collectively as the LIRR Bargaining Committee—represent roughly half of the railroad’s 7,000 unionized workers.
The unions typically negotiate contracts together, but the LIRR Bargaining Committee broke away from the railroad’s largest union, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), to pursue a better deal.
SMART union members have already accepted the MTA’s contract, which gives them a 9.5 percent pay increase over three years. Leaders of the five opposing unions argue that the raise does not keep pace with the rising cost of living in the Northeast. If the unions succeed, the MTA must offer a 15 percent pay increase over three years.
Artie Maratea, national president of the TCU and IAM, said the union’s demands are aimed at helping members keep pace with the rising cost of living.
“What the unions are asking for is not extravagant. We are simply asking to keep up with the surrounding economy and the skyrocketing cost of living,” Maratea said in an official statement. “Workers in every sector are struggling to make ends meet as rent, groceries, childcare, and utilities climb higher each month due to inflation. LIRR employees deserve wages and benefits that reflect the reality of living and working in New York today.”
He added: “We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fairness, safety, and a contract that reflects the essential role these workers play in this region.”
MTA data show that the railroad pays some of the highest wages in the country, with engineers earning an average of more than $160,000 per year, as reported by the New York Times.
Last month, federal officials with the National Mediation Board indicated that no agreement could be reached between the MTA and the Bargaining Committee. MTA Communications Director Tim Minton said the agency offered to continue negotiations, but the unions declined. That refusal triggered a 30-day “cooling-off” period under federal labor law, paving the way for a potential strike once the period ends on September 18.
An agreement could still be reached. According to the Times, Gov. Kathy Hochul has the option to request federal intervention, which could delay the strike for months. However, it remains unclear whether she will do so, given her previous criticism of the Trump administration for ending mediation between the two sides last month.
If the strike occurs, the LIRR advises commuters to work from home if possible. For those who must travel, riders should allow extra time and expect road congestion and crowded alternative transit options.
The MTA will provide limited shuttle bus service on weekdays for essential workers and those who can’t work from home. Buses will run every 10 minutes during peak hours—toward Manhattan from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., and to Long Island from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.—from three LIRR stations to transfer points in Queens.
Shuttles will run from Bellmore Station, providing connections to the A train at Howard Beach–JFK Airport, and from Hicksville and Ronkonkoma stations to the 7 train at Mets–Willets Point. Nassau County commuters are encouraged to use the NICE bus to connect with Flushing–Main Street and the Jamaica Bus Terminal in Queens, a short walk from the F train at 169th Street.
LIRR also recommends using the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue, Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike, Mets-Willets Point, Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard, Parsons Boulevard, Sheepshead Bay, and Woodhaven Blvd subway stations as passenger drop-off points. These stations are close to major roadways that lead to and from Long Island.
If its board approves, the MTA will issue prorated refunds to monthly ticket holders for any weekdays in September when the strike suspends service.
The last time LIRR workers went on strike was in 1994, a two-day work stoppage over pay and work-related rules. The strike ended with then-MTA Chairman Peter E. Stangl conceding to the union’s demands, according to the Times.
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