LIRR strike shuts down nation's busiest railroad as unions, MTA fail to reach deal | Live updates

Long Island Rail Road workers went on strike after failing to reach a new contract deal with the MTA by the deadline of 12:01 a.m. Saturday, crippling the largest commuter rail system in the nation.

No further talks are scheduled at this point and picketing will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday at Penn Station and Ronkonkoma Station. The railroad is completely shut down, but trains that had begun their trips before the midnight deadline will reach their final destinations so that no passengers are left stranded.

"While some progress had been made toward a settlement earlier in the evening MTA refused to close the gap and toward the end of the night management clearly wanted to provoke a strike than settle by adding healthcare takeaways and other issues to the table literally in the 11th hour that had never been raised previously," the unions said in a press release.

Union leaders held an update after failing to reach a deal with the MTA on a new contract by the Saturday midnight deadline.

Kevin Sexton of the National Vice President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen said no new negotiations have been scheduled.

"We're far apart at this point," Sexton said. "We are truly sorry that we are in this situation."

Janno Lieber, the CEO of the MTA, said the strike was "obviously not the result we are looking for" and that everyone loses with a strike.

He said the MTA board cannot responsibly make a deal that implodes the budget, saying the agency fought hard to get back on a solid financial footing.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber spoke after contract negotiations ended without a deal at midnight, saying, "The MTA board cannot responsibly make a deal that implodes the budget."

Lieber also said the MTA wants to avoid a deal that forces fare hikes.

Lieber said it was shocking the unions depicting workers as underpaid.

"We gave them everything they wanted in terms of pay and they still rejected the offer." he said.

Lieber said it became apparent the unions always wanted to strike.

The strike will force the roughly 250,000 people who ride the system each weekday to find alternative routes into New York City from its Long Island suburbs or to work from home. That means more cars on traffic-choked highways and longer work commutes.

The union has demanded a total raise of 16% over four years, saying it is needed to help workers keep up with inflation and rising living costs. The MTA argued that the union's initial demands would lead to fare increases. The authority has agreed to a pay raise of at least 9.5% over the next three years, plus what would effectively amount to a 4.5% raise in year four.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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.

Crystal Cranmore spoke with commuters ahead of the midnight deadline on Friday night.

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.