Trending Now - LIRR Workers Strike, Halting Operations on Major Commuter Line

WHO:

CNN - Five unions representing 3,500 workers are involved in the strike at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).

PBS - The LIRR workforce consists of about 7,000 personnel, with five unions representing approximately half of this workforce.

PBS - Kevin Sexton is the vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and spokesperson for the unions.

PBS - Gary Dellaverson is the MTA's chief negotiator.

PBS - Gov. Kathy Hochul has urged LIRR riders to work from home.

WHAT:

Newsday - The unions initially asked for raises of 6.5% in a fourth year, but had since come down to 5%, and further negotiations indicated they were willing to lower their demands even more.

Newsday - MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber stated that the average wage of striking workers is $136,000, and he accused the unions of intending to strike from the beginning.

Newsday - The economic impact of the strike is expected to be up to $70 million a day, according to the Long Island Association business group, and up to $61 million a day, according to the office of the state comptroller, Tom DiNapoli.

Newsday - The MTA plans to run six shuttle bus routes from various LIRR stations to subway stations in Queens, accommodating only 13,000 riders during each commute.

Newsday - The unions initially asked for raises of 6.5% in a fourth year, but had since come down to 5%.

Newsday - MTA leaders said they offered 4.5% raises, and countered that the members of the five unions are already the highest-paid railroad workers in the nation.

Newsday - The economic impact of a strike is expected to be tens of millions of dollars — $70 million a day, according to an estimate by the Long Island Association business group, and up to $61 million a day, according to an estimate by the office of the state comptroller, Tom DiNapoli.

Newsday - Prorated refunds to monthly ticket holders will be issued in the event of a strike to cover any business day on which service is suspended due to the strike.

Newsday - The average wage of striking workers is $136,000, according to MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber.

Newsday - The MTA reported that the unions' demands could lead to fare increases of up to 8%.

Newsday - The economic impact of the strike is estimated to be tens of millions of dollars, with figures ranging from $61 million to $70 million a day.

Newsday - The MTA plans to run six shuttle bus routes from various LIRR stations to subway stations in Queens, accommodating only 13,000 riders during each commute.

CNN - The strike will be most severely felt on Monday when nearly 300,000 commuters make their way in and out of the city.

Bloomberg Markets - The Long Island Rail Road will suspend service for the first time in more than 30 years after labor groups and transit officials failed to reach a deal on wage increases by a Friday night deadline.

Fox News - The Long Island Rail Road strike leaves 330,000 daily commuters without service as unions and the MTA clash over a proposed fourth-year wage increase.

CNN - The unions are seeking the first raise for their members since 2022, a period that saw some of the highest cost-of-living increases in decades in one of the nation’s most expensive markets.

CNN - The MTA's limited bus service can accommodate only about 13,000 riders in the morning and another 13,000 in the evening.

PBS - The MTA will provide free but limited shuttle buses during the morning and afternoon rush hours, departing from designated LIRR train stations to subway stops in Queens.

CNN - The strike has halted all train traffic on the LIRR, potentially stranding hundreds of thousands of weekday passengers.

CNN - The strike is the first at the LIRR since 1994.

PBS - The LIRR carries about 250,000 customers each weekday.

CNN - The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) can only accommodate about 13,000 riders in the morning and another 13,000 in the evening with limited bus service.

PBS - The unions are seeking a total raise of 16% over four years.

CNN - The strike will be most severely felt on Monday when nearly 300,000 commuters make their way in and out of the city.

Fox News - The Long Island Rail Road strike leaves 330,000 daily commuters without service on the busiest US rail line.

Fox News - The Long Island Rail Road strike leaves 330,000 daily commuters without service as unions and the MTA clash over a proposed fourth-year wage increase.

CNN - The unions are seeking the first raise for their members since 2022, a period that saw some of the highest cost-of-living increases in decades in one of the nation’s most expensive markets.

CNN - Commuters face the prospect of driving to work amid high gas prices and new tolls on all cars entering Manhattan’s business district.

CNN - The strike will be most severely felt on Monday when nearly 300,000 commuters make their way in and out of the city.

CNN - The MTA's limited bus service can accommodate only about 13,000 riders in the morning and another 13,000 in the evening.

PBS - The MTA will provide free but limited shuttle buses during the morning and afternoon rush hours, departing from designated LIRR train stations to subway stops in Queens.

CNN - The strike has halted all train traffic on the LIRR, potentially stranding hundreds of thousands of weekday passengers.

CNN - The strike is the first at the LIRR since 1994.

PBS - The LIRR carries about 250,000 customers each weekday.

CNN - The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) can only accommodate about 13,000 riders in the morning and another 13,000 in the evening with limited bus service.

PBS - The unions are seeking a total raise of 16% over four years.

WHERE:

CNN - The LIRR serves the New York City area and its eastern suburbs.

PBS - The MTA oversees the LIRR and other area transit systems.

WHEN:

CNN - The strike started at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday.

PBS - A previous strike was temporarily averted in September when President Trump’s administration intervened.

WHY:

Newsday - The unions argue that the raises they are seeking are necessary to keep up with high cost of living increases and to offset raises given to workers at other major railroads.

CNN - The unions failed to reach a deal with railroad management on wages and work rules.

PBS - The unions are advocating for raises to reflect the rising cost of living, which has seen significant increases in recent years.

HOW:

Newsday - The MTA's chief negotiator, Gary Dellaverson, stated that the agency's offer of 4.5% raises would come in the form of lump sum payments rather than permanent wage increases.

CNN - Congress can intervene to broker a deal, as it did in December 2022, when it prevented a national freight railroad strike because it posed a threat to the national economy.

CNN - Railroads operate under a different labor law than most businesses in the country, making it more difficult for unions to go on strike. However, the unions cleared barriers in the law to limit strikes, including mediation, cooling-off periods, and government panels considering bargaining positions.

CNN - The unions cleared barriers in labor law that typically limit strikes, such as mediation and cooling-off periods, allowing them to strike without further legal hindrances.

PBS - The MTA offered the unions what it said would effectively amount to a 4.5% raise in the fourth year of the contract, in the form of lump sum payments rather than wage increases.

CNN - The unions cleared barriers in labor law that typically limit strikes, such as mediation and cooling-off periods.

PBS - The MTA proposed a 9.5% wage increase over three years, while the unions are holding out for a 16% increase over four years.

CNN - Congress can intervene to broker a deal, as it did in December 2022, when it prevented a national freight railroad strike because it posed a threat to the national economy.

CNN - The unions cleared barriers in labor law that typically limit strikes, such as mediation and cooling-off periods, allowing them to strike without further legal hindrances.

PBS - The MTA offered the unions what it said would effectively amount to a 4.5% raise in the fourth year of the contract, in the form of lump sum payments rather than wage increases.

CNN - The unions cleared barriers in labor law that typically limit strikes, such as mediation and cooling-off periods.

PBS - The MTA proposed a 9.5% wage increase over three years, while the unions are holding out for a 16% increase over four years.

(UPDATED May 17, 2026 04:16 UTC)

The ongoing strike has seen unions initially demanding a 6.5% raise for the fourth year, but they have since reduced their request to 5% and are open to further negotiations. MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber highlighted that the average wage of striking workers is $136,000 and accused the unions of planning to strike from the outset. The economic impact of the strike is projected to reach as high as $70 million a day, prompting the MTA to implement shuttle bus routes from various LIRR stations to subway stations in Queens, which will only accommodate 13,000 riders during each commute.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 23:12 UTC)

Negotiations between the MTA and five unions representing railroad workers have reached a critical point, with unions initially seeking a 6.5% raise but now settling for 5%, while the MTA has countered with an offer of 4.5% in lump sum payments. The potential economic impact of a strike could be staggering, with estimates ranging from $61 million to $70 million a day, prompting concerns from business groups and state officials alike. In the event of a strike, the MTA plans to issue prorated refunds to monthly ticket holders for any business days when service is suspended.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 19:18 UTC)

The average wage of striking workers is reported to be $136,000, as stated by MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber, while the unions argue that their demands for raises are essential to keep pace with rising living costs and to match increases given to workers at other major railroads. The MTA has warned that meeting these demands could result in fare hikes of up to 8%, and the economic impact of the strike is estimated to be between $61 million and $70 million a day. In response, the MTA plans to operate six shuttle bus routes from various LIRR stations to subway stations in Queens, which will only accommodate 13,000 riders during each commute.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 17:17 UTC)

The Long Island Rail Road has suspended service for the first time in over 30 years, leaving 330,000 daily commuters without transportation as unions and the MTA clash over a proposed wage increase. The unions are seeking a total raise of 16% over four years, while the MTA has offered what it claims amounts to a 4.5% raise in the fourth year through lump sum payments instead of direct wage increases. With limited bus service available to only 26,000 riders during peak hours, the strike will hit hardest on Monday when nearly 300,000 commuters attempt to navigate the disruption.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 15:15 UTC)

The Long Island Rail Road will suspend service for the first time in over 30 years, leaving 330,000 daily commuters without transportation on the busiest rail line in the U.S. This strike will hit hardest on Monday, impacting nearly 300,000 commuters traveling in and out of the city. Congress has the option to step in and broker a deal, similar to its intervention in December 2022, when it prevented a national freight railroad strike due to economic concerns.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 11:17 UTC)

A strike by the Long Island Rail Road has left 330,000 daily commuters without service as unions and the MTA clash over a proposed wage increase for the fourth year. The unions are pushing for their first raise since 2022, during a time when cost-of-living increases have surged in one of the nation's most expensive markets. Although railroads operate under different labor laws that complicate strike actions, the unions successfully navigated legal barriers to limit strikes, including mediation and government panels assessing bargaining positions.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 07:36 UTC)

Commuters are facing significant challenges as they prepare to drive to work amid soaring gas prices and new tolls for all vehicles entering Manhattan's business district. The impact of a strike will be most pronounced on Monday, when nearly 300,000 commuters are expected to travel in and out of the city, while the MTA's limited bus service can only accommodate about 13,000 riders each in the morning and evening. To help ease the situation, the MTA will provide free but limited shuttle buses during rush hours, departing from designated LIRR train stations to subway stops in Queens.

(UPDATED May 16, 2026 05:52 UTC)

A strike involving five unions representing 3,500 workers has brought all train traffic on the Long Island Rail Road to a halt, potentially stranding hundreds of thousands of weekday passengers. This marks the first strike at the LIRR since 1994, with the unions advocating for a total raise of 16% over four years, while the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has proposed a 9.5% increase over three years. Governor Kathy Hochul has urged LIRR riders to work from home as the MTA can only accommodate a limited number of riders with its bus service during this disruption.