LIRR unions warn strike would be 'disastrous' for Long Island

A looming Long Island Rail Road union strike would be "disastrous" for Long Island, despite MTA officials’ attempts to downplay the impact of the railroad’s first work stoppage in more than three decades, labor leaders said Wednesday.

At a Manhattan news conference, representatives of the five unions involved in the three-year contract battle with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority suggested that a potential strike, which could commence at 12:01 a.m. on May 16, could result in commuter chaos, especially given what they say is an inadequate MTA contingency plan to move stranded commuters.

"I think it’s going to be a disaster for Long Island," said Kevin Sexton, national vice president for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and spokesman for the coalition of five LIRR unions.

"I’m sure we’ve all been on the expressway or the parkway during the rush hour," added Nicholas Peluso, national vice president of the Transportation Communications Union. "Can you imagine adding 350,000 commuters to that?"

The coalition represents about half the LIRR’s 7,000 union workers, including train operators, ticket agents, electricians, signal workers, and machinists. They’ve rejected a three-year contract — already accepted by most other MTA unions — with 9.5% in raises that they say doesn’t keep up with the cost of living.

Two White House-appointed mediation boards have sided with the unions, which are seeking a four-year deal with 14.5% in raises. The MTA has said any raises beyond what they’ve offered would have to come with significant concessions, such as eliminating some work rules that provide extra pay.

A Newsday analysis showed that workers represented by the five unions made, on average, $122,443 in total earnings in 2024, the most recent year for which MTA payroll data was available.

In a statement, the MTA's chief of policy and external relations, John McCarthy, said both sides are in agreement regarding the terms of the first three years of a potential contract.

"The dispute pertains only to one future year, and there's no good reason why it can't be resolved at the bargaining table," McCarthy said. "Nobody wins in a strike — not the unions, not the LIRR, and not the Long Islanders who depend on our great service."

Last month, MTA chairman Janno Lieber said in the event of a strike, the agency would rely on a contingency plan similar to one proposed last fall that would have offered very limited bus service between three LIRR stations and subway stations in Queens, mostly geared toward serving essential workers.

Compared with when the LIRR last went on strike in 1994, "we're in a different world," Lieber said at a March 25 MTA Board meeting. "People have the capacity to remote work to a great extent."

Lieber's comments show that he's "disconnected" from Long Island commuters, said Sexton. He questioned how the LIRR would meet the demand for parking spots at the three stations providing busing, and also noted the contingency plan would come with "a significant expense," including the costs for shuttle buses and security.

If the unions did go on strike, Sexton said they would make sure there was a "controlled shutdown of service. We're not going to leave anyone stranded."

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

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.