LIRR unions, MTA to resume talks on day 3 of the strike
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the coalition of five striking Long Island Rail Road unions plan to resume talks Monday morning at 7:30 a.m.
This comes after the National Mediation Board stepped in, summoning management and workers to a meeting in Manhattan on Sunday.
The federal labor agency governs labor relations for railroads and airlines.
Anthony Johnson has more:
Follow live updates on the LIRR strike here.
During a news conference on Sunday morning, New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged the unions to return to the bargaining table.
"Just three days of a strike would erase every dollar of additional salary that workers would receive under a new contract. We don't need to be here. Workers deserve better, but also New Yorkers deserve better. That's why today I'm urging all parties once again to bargain at the table and to get a deal done," she said.
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.
Union representative Mike Carlucci said he appreciated the governor's public comments but criticized the lack of direct negotiations.
"I still remain disappointed that we're not talking right now," Carlucci said. "We're not in the room getting this done."
According to Carlucci, two independent presidential boards have already reviewed the dispute and concluded the union's demands are reasonable. He urged decision-makers to return to the negotiating table and move the process forward.
The strike has significantly disrupted commuters across Long Island, leaving many unable to travel into New York City. Carlucci acknowledged the widespread impact, noting that union members themselves are also feeling the strain.
"This is affecting everyone, including us," he said. "We're working without money right now. But we have to stay together and fight for what we believe is fair and equitable."
Watch: Union reaction to Hochul's news conference
The governor said that starting at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, the MTA will deploy shuttle buses to subway stations in Queens for essential workers.
The parking lot at Citi Field will be open and available for people to park and take the 7 train, Hochul said.
Hochul also urged those who are able to work from home to do so.
"It's impossible to fully replace LIRR service. So, effective Monday, I'm asking that regular commuters who can work from home should. Please do so. And employers should make every accommodation necessary to allow for remote work," the governor said.
Officials announced that additional resources will be made available for the NYC subway system to handle the potential influx of riders on Monday.
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.
As a result, thousands of commuters are left to find alternative ways into New York City over the weekend.
Union leaders on the picket lines Saturday expressed frustration with the negotiation process leading up to the strike.
"You go throughout the whole day and you're getting proposal after proposal that is just regressive, and then to drop one at the end that is a nonstarter for anyone," said Gilman Lang, General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
The MTA maintains it cannot agree to a deal that would jeopardize its financial stability.
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