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) -- Negotiations are once again underway between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and a coalition of five striking Long Island Rail Road unions.
On Saturday, talks ground to a halt, shutting down North America's largest commuter rail system. By Sunday, the National Mediation Board stepped in, summoning management and workers to a meeting in Manhattan.
The federal labor agency governs labor relations for railroads and airlines.
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.
Jamaica station was one of the destinations for the dozens of shuttle buses leaving Nassau and Suffolk counties for New York City on Monday morning.
Eyewitness News reporter Jaysha Patel spoke with riders about how the commute went.
Various colleges on Long Island are warning students and their families what they may need to know amid the ongoing LIRR strike:
Stony Brook -- Commencement events starting Monday, May 18, will proceed as scheduled. Because of the strike, they expect a 30-40% increase in vehicle traffic on campus.
Hofstra -- Hofstra University scheduled graduation ceremonies for undergraduate and graduate students Sunday, and law students Monday night.
Farmingdale State College -- Farmingdale State College encouraged carpooling during final exams week. Commencement is Friday at the Nassau Veteran's Memorial Coliseum.
Malloy University -- Commencement ceremony is 1 p.m. Monday afternoon at Molloy University in Rockville Centre.
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."
