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

Union workers return to the picket lines on Sunday, but there is still no word on when negotiations between labor leaders and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will resume.

For the region's roughly 300,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders, the disruption continues. Train service remains suspended following a strike that began early Saturday, bringing the nation's busiest commuter rail system to a standstill.

Approximately 3,500 union workers - about half of the LIRR workforce - walked off the job, marking the railroad's first strike in more than three decades. The labor action follows three years of unsuccessful contract negotiations, two federal interventions, and a last-minute round of bargaining that ultimately failed to produce an agreement.

Five labor unions representing engineers, signal workers, and machinists say they are protesting what they describe as insufficient wage increases. The MTA, however, blames union leaders for the breakdown, saying it has made offers that include pay raises but claims unions have been unwilling to compromise.

To help ease the disruption, the MTA plans to provide free shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens. However, the agency acknowledges the service will be limited, with far fewer seats than needed. Additionally, the shuttle buses will not begin operating until Monday and will run only on weekdays.

Team coverage from Eyewitness News at 6:00 a.m.

In a post on X, Governor Hochul said she has been briefed by MTA officials on alternate service plans and the status of negotiations.

Hochul added that the MTA remains ready to negotiate and encouraged both sides to "work around the clock toward a deal that ends this strike."

However, in an update released Saturday evening, the LIRR unions called it an "open-ended strike" and said no talks had been scheduled for the day. The unions also confirmed to ABC News that, despite claims in Hochul's post, MTA officials had not reached out to them about negotiations.

According to the union statement, talks broke down when the MTA added "healthcare takeaways and other concessionary issues to the table literally in the 11th hour before a midnight strike deadline. These regressive management demands had never been raised previously."

The unions also criticized comments made by MTA officials following the strike announcement and said that, despite the agency saying higher wages for workers would lead to increased fares, the Presidential Emergency Board's expert panel found otherwise.

Workers plan to continue picketing on Sunday, according to the update.

LIRR riders found the doors to ticket offices locked at Jamaica station and big orange barricades preventing access to the tracks. Fans wearing orange and blue headed to the Subway Series had to grab a shuttle. Riders scrambled to find alternate transportation and are not happy about it.

Anthony Carlo has more from New Hyde Park:

Anthony Carlo has the latest from New Hyde Park.

"We don't need this LIRR strike. It makes it harder for everyone else that is trying to get to New York City or Long Island. We need to fix this," said one commuter.

And fix it fast they say - the workweek is right around the corner. Some say the LIRR was the only reliable way for them to get around.

The MTA has established shuttle buses at six locations on Long Island to operate during peak weekday hours.

President Donald Trump turned to his social media platform to blame New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for the Long Island Railroad Strike, distancing himself from the conflict and insisting he has "NOTHING TO DO WITH IT."

"She just blurted out, "it's President Trump's fault." No, Kathy, it's your fault, and now looking over the facts, you should not have allowed this to happen," Trump said.

Hochul had said the disruption is the "direct result of reckless actions by the Trump Administration to cut mediation short and push these negotiations toward a strike."

n his post Saturday, the president also claimed that he would be able to "properly" resolve the issue, telling Hochul to reach out to him for help.

"Kathy, call me if you can't do it, I will get it done - I know all the players, great people!!!" Trump said.

Trump then insisted that his pick for New York governor, Bruce Blakeman, would be able to handle the LIRR strike, in addition to other issues affecting New York.

"This would be an easy one for BRUCE BLAKEMAN. He should be your next Governor and New York State would turn around fast, including far less Crime, and much lower taxes!!!" he said.