Long Island Rail Road workers and the MTA have not reached a deal ahead of a potential Saturday midnight strike affecting 300,000 daily commuters.
7:45 PM
A Long Island Rail Road strike could begin Saturday at 12:01 a.m. if the MTA and five unions representing LIRR workers fail to reach an agreement, potentially disrupting service for approximately 300,000 daily commuters.
Negotiations continued through May 14 as the deadline approached, but no accord had been reached by evening. The central dispute centers on compensation for the fourth year of the contract proposal.
The unions are seeking a 5% wage increase for that year. The MTA is offering a 3% increase plus lump sum payments, which the agency says brings the total value to 4.5%. Union representatives have characterized the lump sum approach as a gimmick.
MTA lead negotiator Gary Dellaverson defended the offer on Wednesday, noting that lump sum provisions appeared in the previous contract and that the unions had accepted such arrangements in the past. He compared the choice between wage increases and lump sum payments to selecting between two flavors of popsicles. The unions rejected this characterization as nonsensical.
Both sides have already agreed to retroactive 9.5% increases for earlier years of the contract. MTA officials have warned that agreeing to the unions' full demands could force the agency to raise fares by as much as 8% next year or implement service cuts.
An MTA official stated that a deal was possible, saying there was no reason an agreement should not be reached. Governor Kathy Hochul called on both sides to continue negotiating, stating that ongoing talks were the only way to prevent a strike.
Downtown Brooklyn businesses surrounding Atlantic Terminal have expressed concern about the potential financial impact of a service shutdown. Residents and commuters have voiced anxiety about the disruption.
The MTA has established contingency plans for most LIRR lines. Shuttle buses will operate between Ronkonkoma and Huntington stations and the Jamaica 179th Street subway stop in Queens, where commuters can access the F train to Manhattan. Additional shuttle service will run from Bay Shore, Hicksville, Mineola stations and Hempstead Lake State Park to the Howard Beach-JFK Airport subway station, connecting to the A train.
The Port Washington Branch is the only LIRR line for which the MTA has not established contingency plans. A Port Washington resident expressed concern about the impact on commuters who rely on the train for work trips to the city.
The shuttle buses are scheduled to operate during peak hours if a strike occurs. The MTA has prepared maps and information for commuters to navigate alternative transportation options.
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