Gov. Kathy Hochul weighs in on potential LIRR strike, blames White House for situation
NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul weighed in on the looming possible LIRR strike on Tuesday.
Members of five unions are considering a walkout as soon as Thursday, Sept. 18, a situation Hochul blamed on the Trump White House.
"Let's look at why we are here today. The president did something rather extraordinary and almost unprecedented, which was to say, 'OK, do what you want now, go ahead and strike.' That's unusual," Hochul said. "He owns it, as do the Republicans here on Long Island."
The MTA says nearly 3,400 union members could go on strike, which makes up roughly half its total workforce.
The union representing most of the workers threatening to strike, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, is currently taking a strike authorization vote.
They want a 16% raise over a three-year-period, instead of the 9.5% on the table.
The union is expected to announce on Monday whether its members authorized a strike.
"We have to stick up for the riders and riders are a little frustrated seeing all this overtime and triple wages," said MTA CEO Janno Lieber.
As Hochul urges both sides to get back to the negotiating table, the MTA is preparing to detail strike contingency plans on Thursday.
It was back in 2014 that the unions last came dangerously close to striking. A last-minute deal from then New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo averted it, but left costly work rules in place for the next decade. Now, those unions have said that the current offers don't compete with their counterparts in other cities like Philadelphia.
If there isa strike, expect there to be shuttle buses to subways in Queens.
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