New York — North America’s largest rail system faces a potential shutdown as a deadline approaches to reach a deal with unionized workers to avoid a strike.
The Long Island Railroad, which serves New York City’s eastern suburbs, has been negotiating a new contract for months with labor officials representing locomotive engineers, mechanics, signalmen and other train workers.
A The strike was temporarily averted In September, when President Donald Trump’s administration agreed to help. Those efforts ended without an agreement, giving both sides 60 days — ending at 12:01 a.m. Saturday — to try to resolve their differences again before the union is legally allowed to strike or the agency locks out workers.
Five labor unions representing about half of the train system’s 7,000-person workforce warned this week that the Saturday deadline was approaching.
The LIRR is the busiest railroad in North America, carrying about 250,000 customers every weekday. LIRR workers last went on strike in 1994 for about two days. The workers were almost walked out in 2014 before the then government took over. Andrew Cuomo reached an agreement with the unions.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees the LIRR and other area transit systems, said it would provide free service but Limited shuttle buses During peak hours in the morning and afternoon. The agency says the buses will depart from designated LIRR train stations to subway stations in New York City’s Queens borough.
Governor Kathy Hochul LIRR riders are urged to work from home, if possible, as the free shuttles are intended for essential workers and those who cannot work remotely. Months ago, the Democrat criticized LIRR unions for “predatory demands” that threaten to “destabilize the local economy.”
But there were signs of progress in negotiations this week.
Months ago, the MTA proposed to unions a 9.5% wage increase over three years, in line with what other unionized workers in the system had already agreed to. However, unions have demanded another annual salary increase of 6.5%, bringing the total increase to 16% over four years.
But after closed-door meetings on Wednesday, MTA chief negotiator Gary Delaverson said the agency had offered the unions what it said would effectively amount to a 4.5% raise in the fourth year of the contract. He said the offer is in line with what federal officials have recommended and would come in the form of lump payments rather than wage increases, as the union sought.
“The difference between these two positions is not insurmountable,” Delaverson said in a press conference. “It can be described simply in terms of money. There are no longer any complications with the parties.”
Kevin Sexton, a union spokesman, acknowledged on Wednesday that there had been “positive movement” toward a settlement but rejected the idea that a deal was close as “far-fetched.”
He said: “We would like to reach an agreement that reflects the rising costs of living.” “Anything less means lower real wages.”
MTA spokesmen did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment Thursday, but the union said the two sides are expected to continue talks later that night and resume Friday if there is no agreement.
Susan Alberto, a personal trainer from Long Island, said she has already made plans with her clients in Manhattan to hold virtual sessions in the event of a shutdown.
She said the union likely has the upper hand, even if she believes raises should be based on job responsibilities and not across the board.
“The MTA is going to fail, and they know it,” Alberto said. “Why don’t they do it now instead of waiting until millions of people are inconvenienced?”
Rob O’Dell, an electrician who takes the LIRR at least five days a week, said he would likely use his vacation days instead of the “nightmare” commute to Manhattan if rail service stopped.
As a union member, he sympathized with unions’ concerns about affordability, but said he disagreed with their aggressive tactics.
“I understand, the cost of living is going up and things like that,” Odell said while waiting at Penn Station for the train home. “But they shouldn’t hold everyone hostage to do this. There’s a better way. You’re affecting a lot of other people.”
___
The first rail system reference has been updated to correct the Long Island Rail Road, from the Long Island Railroad.
___
Follow Philippe Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo