LIRR Strike Looms: Key Details for Commuters

NEW YORK, NY — Nearly 300,000 Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) riders may face disrupted commutes next week as labor unions threaten a strike for the first time in nearly three decades. The walkout could begin on September 18 unless unions representing over 3,000 workers secure higher pay than the deal already negotiated with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

The five unions, part of the LIRR Bargaining Committee, represent roughly half of the railroad’s 7,000 unionized workers. If a strike occurs, essential staff such as engineers and signalmen would stop working, potentially halting all LIRR service.

A vote on strike authorization is currently underway among around 600 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, as well as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The Transportation Communications Union and the International Association of Machinists have already approved a strike, while the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen is also considering a strike vote.

These unions broke away from the larger International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), which has accepted a contract that includes a 9.5 percent pay increase over three years. Union leaders argue that this raise does not keep up with rising living costs in the Northeast.

Artie Maratea, national president of TCU and IAM, stressed that union demands are intended to help members cope with inflation. ‘What we are asking for is not extravagant… We are simply asking to keep up with the surrounding economy,’ he stated. ‘LIRR employees deserve wages and benefits that reflect the reality of living and working in New York today.’

The MTA reports that LIRR’s salaries are among the highest in the country, with engineers earning an average of more than $160,000 annually. However, union leaders claim that the pay increase is insufficient in light of inflation.

Governor Kathy Hochul is weighing federal intervention to delay a strike. She criticized the previous Trump administration’s role in ending mediation too early between the unions and the MTA.

If a strike occurs, the MTA has advised commuters to consider alternative commuting methods, such as working from home if possible. Limited shuttle bus services will be provided for essential workers. Buses will operate from key LIRR stations to subway transfer points in Queens during peak hours, while local transit options will also be available.

The last strike involving LIRR workers was in 1994, lasting only two days. The outcome of this situation remains uncertain as contract talks continue just days before the potential work stoppage.