NEW YORK (WABC) -- Long Island Rail Road workers could go on strike May 16 if they don't reach a new contract deal with the MTA.
The union representing LIRR workers is pushing for higher pay, but MTA leaders warn that agreeing to those demands could trigger significant fare hikes.
Five unions representing 3,500 workers, including engineers, signalmen and trainmen, are threatening to strike if an agreement cannot be reached.
The MTA says if a strike happens, it will roll out a contingency plan that includes shuttle buses to help move riders.
A union representative told Eyewitness News that both sides -- the unions and the MTA -- are currently exchanging new proposals and that a union economist is crunching the numbers.
Union workers entered another round of meetings on Thursday morning at 10.
Those union leaders are calling the standoff unfortunate and say they do not want to strike.
Similar sentiments were shared by the MTA.
In the event that LIRR workers do go on strike on Saturday, the MTA says be prepared for service to shut down entirely.
The MTA is continuing negotiations with the unions, but they are putting a contingency plan in place to be safe.
Shuttle buses will travel from the Ronkonkoma LIRR station and the Huntington LIRR station to the Jamaica 179th Street subway stop in Queens. There, commuters can take the F train into Manhattan.
Buses will also run from the Bay Shore, Hicksville and Mineola stations as well as Hempstead Lake State Park station. Those shuttles will go to the Howard Beach - JFK Airport subway station where commuters can connect to the A train.
Click here for more details of the MTA's contingency plan.
The Long Island Rail Road unions released a new statement on Thursday regarding their contract talks with the MTA.
"Long Island Rail Road unions WILL NOT accept gimmicks offered by MTA. A straightforward wage increase is necessary. Proposed one-time lump sum payment are rejected. Unless MTA gets serious about its wage proposals a strike in less than 48 hours is likely.
"MTA's news conference yesterday following contract talks was an astounding lesson in misinformation and disinformation. The transit authority's chief negotiator's description of a wage increase versus a lump sum payment as no different than the choice between a red and a yellow popsicle was nonsensical."
MTA negotiators say there's no reason a deal can't be reached Thursday to prevent a strike.
But LIRR workers say they are determined to walk off their jobs this weekend if a deal isn't reached.
Around 3,500 workers are threatening to walk off the job on Saturday just after midnight.
If a strike happens, it would leave nearly 300,000 commuters with very few transportation options.
The unions are demanding wage increases of 14.5% over four years.
MTA officials have offered slightly smaller increases and a $3,000 lump-sum payment.
MTA officials have previously said to cover extra costs, they may have to cut service, reduce jobs or even hike fares up to 8% next year, but labor leaders say that's not true.
The last LIRR strike was back in 1994 when workers walked off the job for two days.
