Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday after not reaching a new contract deal with the MTA.
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Negotiators have reached a deal to end a strike that has brought North America's largest commuter rail system to a standstill.
The deal between the Long Island Rail Road and union leaders was announced on Monday.
The two sides had bargained for years before the strike began Saturday. The shutdown has forced roughly 250,000 commuters who ride the system each weekday to work from home or find alternate routes to and from the city.
The five unions represent about half its workforce, including engineers, signalmen and trainmen.
The unions and the MTA have been negotiating for months on a new contract, with talks stalled over workers' salaries and healthcare premiums.
Stay with Eyewitness News for complete coverage of the strike, including an early edition of Eyewitness News, starting at 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Anthony Johnson reports from outside of MTA headquarters.
Plus, Krista McNally has the latest from Ronkonkoma, the furthest point east where workers are able to take MTA shuttle buses.
Janno Lieber, Chair and CEO of the MTA, joined Eyewitness News to comment on the ongoing Long Island Rail Road strike, where negotiations stand, and what to expect when a deal is reached.
"I am cautiously optimistic ... we are headed in a positive direction but we have to get it finished," Lieber shared.
As for the MTA's alternate methods of transportation for LIRR commuters, Lieber said that numbers show that "folks are taking the governor's suggestion to stay home and to telework."
"Ridership has been pretty light on those (shuttle) buses," he said.
Even if the MTA and LIRR unions reach an agreement, passengers can expect a delay before services resume.
"If we can get a deal done, we can have service on the next day," Lieber estimated.
His message to frustrated customers:
"Stand by, we're trying to get the job done at the bargaining table so we can restore everything to normality. That is our priority right now."
Talks are set to resume this morning at 7:30 a.m. between LIRR workers and the MTA.
This is the third day of the strike, but the first workday.
The talks are being described as "cordial."
Anthony Johnson looks ahead as MTA management and LIRR union workers plan to resume talks.
Still, those talks won't come in time to help the Monday morning commute.
The National Mediation Board got involved along with some pressure from Governor Kathy Hochul to get the talk restarted.
The two sides, the five unions and the MTA, avoided each other on Saturday which was the first day of the strike.
The negotiations on this contract began back in 2023. The big issues are salaries and health care.
The only activity in the LIRR concourse is NJ Transit and Amtrak riders walking through, and Port Authority police. By now, railroad riders aren't coming to look for service, but they are trying to figure out what to do.
Sonia Rincon reports from Penn Station:
Outside Penn Station, striking railroad workers are loudly and proudly demanding the contract that has eluded them so far.
If you head downstairs, the signage makes it abundantly clear -- you can't even get a ticket for a future train. A person who works at Penn told Eyewitness News it definitely feels like we're witnessing a historic event. No service because of several unions on strike? That hasn't happened in more than 30 years.
