Nationwide freight railroad strike could have impacted LIRR commuters
People wait to board a train at Long Island Rail Road's Jamaica Station, Friday, August 13, 2021. A potential freight railroad workers strike could have impacted Long Island Rail Road commuters, if LIRR laborers, in support of fellow railroaders, refused to cross picket lines. Credit: Craig Ruttle
A potential nationwide strike by freight rail union workers — which was averted Thursday when a tentative labor agreement was reached — could have impacted Long Island Rail Road commuters as soon as the Friday morning rush hour, if LIRR laborers supporting fellow railroaders refused to cross picket lines.
LIRR management acknowledged the possibility in an email to labor leaders Tuesday, telling them that “there is no lawful right to strike at the LIRR.”
In the “highly unlikely” event that striking freight railroaders attempted to disrupt commuter service, LIRR workers “must report to work and perform your normal duties” the email, sent by the railroad’s labor relations department to union leadership, said.
A labor dispute involving two unions representing some 56,000 freight railroad workers — the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) — could have resulted in a strike, or lockout, as early as 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
With the potential for a work stoppage to cause massive disruptions to commerce and travel throughout the country, federal lawmakers intervened Wednesday, even considering legislation to block a strike. President Joe Biden's labor secretary also hosted emergency meetings to try and find a resolution.
Early Thursday morning, a tentative agreement was announced, averting a strike that could have been devastating to the economy before the pivotal midterm elections.
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called a national freight shutdown “not acceptable.”
“We have made crystal clear to the interested parties the harm that American families, business and farmers and communities would experience if they were not to reach a resolution,” Jean-Pierre said.
Both unions involved in the dispute also represent LIRR workers, although LIRR unions were not directly affected by the contract impasse.
But at least one LIRR union leader had vowed that his members would not cross picket lines, if impacted freight workers had demonstrated on Long Island Rail Road property.
“Our LIRR members are specifically ‘Railroad Workers’ and therefore have a clear obligation to honor picket lines, and it is a right which is legally protected,” said Michael Sullivan, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Local 56, which represents about 750 LIRR workers.
A no-show by LIRR signal workers could have impacted service if there was any track switch or signal failure that could not be addressed.
LIRR officials said Wednesday that they did not anticipate any service disruptions related to a work stoppage, or opportunities for LIRR workers to be confronted with crossing a picket line. There are no locations where both LIRR and freight rail workers report for duty, LIRR officials said.
Anthony Simon, who heads up the local division of SMART — the LIRR’s largest union — said his organization “is in full support of the freight unions and their right to a fair and equitable contract,” but stopped short of saying his members would have refused to cross picket lines if it came to that.
“We will be there for them in solidarity, while recognizing that we have a legal obligation to fulfill the requirements of our current, up-to-date agreement with the MTA,” Simon said.
The head of the local division of BLET, which represents LIRR locomotive engineers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“The MTA's railroad employees showed up and moved New Yorkers even during the toughest days of COVID,” MTA external relation chief John McCarthy said in a statement Wednesday. “We are confident they will respect all Agreements and remain committed to transporting riders to their destinations.”
Before the agreement was announced, Will Flower, a spokesman for Shamrock Rail — a Class 3 freight railroad operating at the Brookhaven Rail Terminal — called the potential strike “a major concern for Long Island, New York, and the United States.”
“Any disruption in transportation could upset an already strained supply chain and force an increase in prices thereby contributing to even greater inflationary woes,” Flower said.
Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said the dispute could have “significantly" impacted intercity passenger rail service, as Amtrak operates on 21,000 miles owned and maintained by freight railroads. Amtrak preemptively canceled some long-distance trips, but Abrams said “most travel” within the Northeast Corridor, which includes New York, would not be affected.
A potential nationwide strike by freight rail union workers — which was averted Thursday when a tentative labor agreement was reached — could have impacted Long Island Rail Road commuters as soon as the Friday morning rush hour, if LIRR laborers supporting fellow railroaders refused to cross picket lines.
LIRR management acknowledged the possibility in an email to labor leaders Tuesday, telling them that “there is no lawful right to strike at the LIRR.”
In the “highly unlikely” event that striking freight railroaders attempted to disrupt commuter service, LIRR workers “must report to work and perform your normal duties” the email, sent by the railroad’s labor relations department to union leadership, said.
A labor dispute involving two unions representing some 56,000 freight railroad workers — the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) — could have resulted in a strike, or lockout, as early as 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
With the potential for a work stoppage to cause massive disruptions to commerce and travel throughout the country, federal lawmakers intervened Wednesday, even considering legislation to block a strike. President Joe Biden's labor secretary also hosted emergency meetings to try and find a resolution.
Early Thursday morning, a tentative agreement was announced, averting a strike that could have been devastating to the economy before the pivotal midterm elections.
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called a national freight shutdown “not acceptable.”
“We have made crystal clear to the interested parties the harm that American families, business and farmers and communities would experience if they were not to reach a resolution,” Jean-Pierre said.
Both unions involved in the dispute also represent LIRR workers, although LIRR unions were not directly affected by the contract impasse.
But at least one LIRR union leader had vowed that his members would not cross picket lines, if impacted freight workers had demonstrated on Long Island Rail Road property.
“Our LIRR members are specifically ‘Railroad Workers’ and therefore have a clear obligation to honor picket lines, and it is a right which is legally protected,” said Michael Sullivan, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Local 56, which represents about 750 LIRR workers.
A no-show by LIRR signal workers could have impacted service if there was any track switch or signal failure that could not be addressed.
LIRR officials said Wednesday that they did not anticipate any service disruptions related to a work stoppage, or opportunities for LIRR workers to be confronted with crossing a picket line. There are no locations where both LIRR and freight rail workers report for duty, LIRR officials said.
Anthony Simon, who heads up the local division of SMART — the LIRR’s largest union — said his organization “is in full support of the freight unions and their right to a fair and equitable contract,” but stopped short of saying his members would have refused to cross picket lines if it came to that.
“We will be there for them in solidarity, while recognizing that we have a legal obligation to fulfill the requirements of our current, up-to-date agreement with the MTA,” Simon said.
The head of the local division of BLET, which represents LIRR locomotive engineers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“The MTA's railroad employees showed up and moved New Yorkers even during the toughest days of COVID,” MTA external relation chief John McCarthy said in a statement Wednesday. “We are confident they will respect all Agreements and remain committed to transporting riders to their destinations.”
Before the agreement was announced, Will Flower, a spokesman for Shamrock Rail — a Class 3 freight railroad operating at the Brookhaven Rail Terminal — called the potential strike “a major concern for Long Island, New York, and the United States.”
“Any disruption in transportation could upset an already strained supply chain and force an increase in prices thereby contributing to even greater inflationary woes,” Flower said.
Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said the dispute could have “significantly" impacted intercity passenger rail service, as Amtrak operates on 21,000 miles owned and maintained by freight railroads. Amtrak preemptively canceled some long-distance trips, but Abrams said “most travel” within the Northeast Corridor, which includes New York, would not be affected.
Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.
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