NEW YORK (WABC) -- 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.
The union representing LIRR workers is pushing for higher pay, but MTA leaders warn that agreeing to those demands could trigger significant fare hikes.
The five unions represent 3,500 workers, including engineers, signalmen and trainmen.
The MTA is now rolling out a contingency plan that includes shuttle buses to help move riders. Some 300,000 commuters are impacted.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he's closely monitoring the ongoing contract negotiations involving the LIRR, and that City Hall and agencies across his administration are actively coordinating and preparing should a strike happen.
There was a mad dash to get home before the clock strikes midnight.
That's when LIRR train service could be suspended if the Long Island Rail Road unions and the MTA can't reach a deal.
"Our cars like all the way back on the island, like back on our train, like our stock, and it's like $130 for us to get an uber two hours," said commuter Jordan Rund.
The day started with a headache for some after a fire in the East River tunnel Thursday had a rippling effect across the network, disrupting service.
"It was just a little bit of an unfortunate surprise getting into Penn tonight and seeing all the trains were still canceled," said one commuter heading home from downtown Manhattan to Mineola.
As the clock inches toward the deadline for the unions and the MTA to reach an agreement on a contract, people are worried about how they will get to work from Long Island to the city.
"I do ultrasounds for pregnant women and gynecology and so on and I have to be there. I can't do that remotely," said commuter Dana Camera.
The MTA is suggesting that if you can, work from home.
Rund just returned home from the University of Michigan and just started a new internship. She says working from home isn't an option.
"I work in the West Village, so for me to drive all day from Long Island to the west side, it would take me like over two hours to be able to get there. So, we kind of a hassle," Rund said.
Riders on Friday night were hoping for the best.
"At this point, we kind of have no idea what's going to happen, and we're just kind of waiting to figure it out," Rund said.
Both sides are still going back and forth after the MTA presented a new proposal and the LIRR unions countered, according to sources.
They are expected to negotiate, potentially, up until the midnight deadline.
The MTA has brought a new proposal to the table that is now being reviewed by the union. The union is deciding on a counter.
The details of the proposal have not been revealed.
