LIRR strike ends as unions, MTA reach deal after 3-day walkout

LIRR talks have ended for the day on Wednesday and are expected to resume Thursday.

Both sides are exchanging proposals and both sides say they have found Gov. Hochul's comments encouraging.

She said nobody wins in a strike and everyone will be hurt.

"The riders who rely on the Long Island Railroad and the thousands of workers will lose wages," Hochul said. "The LIRR is the life blood of this island. Nearly 300,000 riders take it every single day. and we know that a strike would have significant impacts on the entirety of Long Island."

She said the potential strike was accelerated by unprecedented action from the Trump administration.

"Now, of course, no one wants a strike. I don't want a strike. That's why I've told the team at the MTA to bargain and that's exactly what they're doing," she said. "But I'll tell you this. I continue to worry about affordability for Long Islanders. I'm not willing to ask Long Islanders to pay unnecessary fare hikes or higher taxes. I worked hard to put the MTA on stable footing, and I will not risk that stability. So we have to be ready for whatever happens, and we are."

She said in order to get a settlement, the unions need to start working to find a compromise.

"Yes, workers deserve to be paid fairly for their work, but at the same time, we must be responsible with public funds and the fares paid by Long Island residents," Hochul said."I believe that a deal can be reached here, and I'll continue to urge both sides to work together to avoid a strike."

Talks between the sides have resumed in Midtown on Wednesday, at the headquarters of one of the unions involved.

MTA officials say they are no longer seeking work rule concessions that the LIRR unions have flatly rejected during negotiations.

The agency had offered a salary increase as high as 4.5% in the fourth year of the contract under negotiation -- if workers agreed to make concessions to the longstanding work rules. The negotiating point has been a non-starter.

Instead, the MTA is now offering signing bonuses and one time payments, which the union has also rejected as gimmicks.

Talks are focused on the fourth year of the contract. LIRR unions want 5%, to reflect the increasing cost of living. MTA has offered in the 3% range.

While the unions called Gov. Hochul's comments Monday "encouraging," they characterize the talks as stalled. But MTA officials say they believe they are "very close."

Mere days remain until hundreds of LIRR workers say they will go on strike -- unless they get a new contract offer they deem acceptable.

Nearly 300,000 commuters would be left scrambling if the LIRR were to pause operations.

The MTA and unions representing LIRR workers have reached a preliminary deal, and the two sides are meeting again today.

Jaysha Patel has the latest.

MTA management says both sides have agreed to retroactive raises, but the sticking point remains for 2026: the union is asking for 5%, while the MTA is offering just 3%.

The MTA says it submitted a proposal during Monday's meeting, it's unknown whether or not their proposal met the union's demand.

MTA officials claim that, to cover extra costs, they may have to cut service, reduce jobs or even hike fares up to 8% next year.

Labor leaders say that's just not true.

If a strike happens on Saturday, May 16, MTA officials say they have a contingency plan in place, which includes shuttle buses for LIRR riders.

Negotiations between the MTA and LIRR unions have ended for the day on Monday.

The next face-to-face talks are set for Wednesday.

The coalition of five rail unions is made up of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Transportation Communications Union.