Deal ends LIRR strike, 'phased' service resumes at noon Tuesday, Hochul says

A deal has been reached to the end the historic Long Island Rail Road union strike, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday night.

"Tonight, the MTA reached a fair deal with the five LIRR unions that delivers raises for workers while protecting riders and taxpayers. I’m pleased to announce that phased LIRR service will resume beginning tomorrow at noon," Hochul tweeted on X shortly before 9 p.m.

Tonight, the @MTA reached a fair deal with the five LIRR unions that delivers raises for workers while protecting riders and taxpayers.

I’m pleased to announce that phased LIRR service will resume beginning tomorrow at noon.

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) May 19, 2026

Kevin Sexton vice president of locomotive engineers said outside MTA headquarters in Manhattan: "We have good news tonight...We're pleased to announce that the parties have reached an agreement. Due to the nature of the negotiations, we cannot discuss the specifics. What we can say is that we're looking forward to our members getting back to work and doing what they do best, which is serving the region."

When asked what he had to say to the commuters who use the LIRR, Sexton said. "We appreciate their patience during this difficult time."

Sexton said that he believed that the agreement would be passed by his members. "If we didn't think that it would be ratifiable, we would still be at the bargaining table," he said.

His only message to his members was: "We got you on this."

Sexton seemed clearly seemed exhausted by the long negotiations. "It's been a long night, everybody is tired," he said.

The deal, hammered out Monday evening at a lengthy bargaining session, resolves the three-year long contract dispute between five LIRR unions representing about 3,500 employees, including locomotive engineers, who had sought raises beyond what most other Metropolitan Transportation Authority organized workers had already accepted.

The deal came on the third day of the first LIRR work stoppage since 1994, and after the first weekday rush hours without any trains running—forcing what would be an average of 270,000 commuters to find alternatives, including special shuttle buses operating between six Long Island locations and two Queens subway stops.

MTA officials have said several tasks would have to be completed to get the LIRR's fleet of about 1,300 trains out of the yards where they are parked and back into service.