Use LIRR strike reprieve wisely

Long Island Rail Road riders can breathe a sigh of relief as they commute to work this week, as a potential strike by five of the railroad's unions has been averted for now. 

That's good news for commuters, who were scrambling to make alternative arrangements in case of a strike, which had been expected to begin Thursday.

Nonetheless, the threat of a stoppage still looms. On Monday, leaders of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen announced they would seek the involvement of a presidential emergency board, a process that automatically delays a strike and allows for mediation and cooling-off periods. But that same union also announced that its members had voted to strike — just as four others already had done. 

The situation puts riders in limbo, uncertain of what will come next. 

The unions' decision to seek the White House's intervention came as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority rightfully has held its ground in recent weeks, committing only to giving the holdout LIRR unions the same deal to which others had previously agreed — a 9.54% raise over three years. The five unions that had refused that deal are seeking a fourth year — with an additional 6.5% raise.

MTA officials have said they'd consider added wage boosts, but only if they're accompanied by the elimination of costly, antiquated work rules that serve as lucrative pay boosts for LIRR workers. The unions so far have refused any such changes. That's unsurprising; one such rule gives those locomotive engineers an extra day's pay just for flipping a switch.

Gov. Kathy Hochul so far has supported the MTA — and she deserves credit for standing her ground. But she also has tried to point fingers at President Donald Trump, an unnecessarily partisan blame game. Now, the delays could push negotiations into 2026 — an election year for the governor. She should continue to put taxpayers first and must refuse to cave to the unions' demands, even as her own political landscape shifts. 

Hochul can avoid that 2026 backdrop by pushing negotiations forward more quickly. The White House's involvement includes federal mediators, but any proposal will be nonbinding. So, the decision making still lies with Hochul, the MTA and the unions. By forcing the agency and the unions back to the table, Hochul can secure a reasonable solution that's fair to both workers and taxpayers. No matter what, the governor and MTA leaders must remain committed to ending obsolete work rules; they cannot allow extra pay boosts without getting rid of the absurd bonuses, overtime and other add-ons.

The request for White House intervention has ended the crisis for now. But the need for urgency and strong, problem-solving leadership from Hochul remains. Take advantage of this window before the clock starts ticking again.