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.
Those who opted to drive from Long Island to New York City on Monday morning dealt with early congestion amid the LIRR strike.
Eyewitness News reporter Lindsay Tuchman was in RoadCam 7 all morning to clock the commute.
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.
