Trending Now - LIRR Strike Continues as Negotiations Stall Between MTA and Unions

WHO:

BBC - Gil Lang, General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, stated, "To every LIRR passenger whose trip is disrupted, know that the MTA left us no choice but to strike."

NBC News - Approximately 300,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders are affected by the strike.

The Guardian - Kevin Sexton stated, “We’re far apart at this point. We are truly sorry that we are in this situation.”

ABC7 New York - Approximately 3,500 union workers, about half of the LIRR workforce, walked off the job.

ABC7 New York - Union representative Mike Carlucci criticized the lack of direct negotiations.

Gothamist - Roughly 275,000 commuters rely on the Long Island Rail Road daily.

The Guardian - Five unions representing about half the workforce of the Long Island Rail Road went on strike.

The Guardian - Kathy Hochul is the Governor of New York.

The Guardian - Kevin Sexton is the national vice-president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

The Guardian - Janno Lieber is the MTA chairman.

The Guardian - Donald Trump’s administration attempted to broker a deal.

WHAT:

NBC News - The strike has left approximately 300,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders without service.

ABC7 New York - The MTA plans to provide free shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens, but acknowledges the service will be limited, with far fewer seats than needed.

ABC7 New York - The shuttle buses will not begin operating until Monday and will run only on weekdays.

ABC7 New York - The parking lot at Citi Field will be open and available for people to park and take the 7 train.

BBC - The unions representing around 3,500 LIRR workers are demanding higher pay, with a stalemate reached over the final year of a four-year contract, which begins in June.

NY Post - Nearly a dozen striking LIRR workers are earning more than $200,000 a year in overtime alone.

The Guardian - The shutdown of the Long Island Rail Road is now entering its second day.

The Guardian - The walkout is the first for the LIRR since a two-day strike in 1994.

The Guardian - If the stoppage continues into the workweek, approximately 250,000 people who ride the system each weekday will need to find alternative routes.

NBC News - New York officials urged commuters to work from home Monday as the strike threatens to disrupt travel for hundreds of thousands of riders across the region.

ABC7 New York - The National Mediation Board has summoned LIRR unions and the MTA to a meeting in Manhattan to help resume bargaining.

ABC7 New York - The MTA plans to provide free shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens, but acknowledges the service will be limited.

ABC7 New York - The MTA has said it would provide limited shuttle buses to New York City subway stations, but that plan was not envisioned to handle all the riders the system normally carries on a workday.

ABC7 New York - The MTA plans to deploy shuttle buses beginning at 4am Monday to help bring essential workers into the city.

The Guardian - The MTA is offering parking at Citi Field stadium for commuters.

ABC7 New York - Union workers returned to the picket lines on Sunday.

ABC7 New York - The National Mediation Board has summoned LIRR unions and the MTA to a meeting in Manhattan to help resume bargaining.

ABC7 New York - The MTA plans to provide free shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens, but acknowledges the service will be limited.

NBC News - New York officials urged commuters to work from home Monday as the strike threatens to disrupt travel for hundreds of thousands of riders across the region.

ABC7 New York - The National Mediation Board has summoned LIRR unions and the MTA to a meeting in Manhattan to help resume bargaining.

ABC7 New York - The MTA plans to provide free shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens, but acknowledges the service will be limited.

ABC7 New York - The National Mediation Board has summoned LIRR unions and the MTA to a meeting in Manhattan to help resume bargaining.

ABC7 New York - The MTA plans to provide free shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens, but acknowledges the service will be limited.

Gothamist - Shuttle buses have a capacity for 13,000.

The Guardian - Kathy Hochul stated, “The MTA has put fair offers on the table, in fact, many of them.”

The Guardian - Hochul urged all parties to bargain at the table and to get a deal done.

The Guardian - The MTA has plans to deploy shuttle buses beginning at 4am Monday to help bring essential workers into the city.

The Guardian - The MTA is offering up parking at Citi Field stadium, where commuters can transfer to NYC’s seven train.

The Guardian - The MTA has said it would provide limited shuttle buses to New York City subway stations, but that plan was not envisioned to handle all the riders the system normally carries on a workday.

NBC News - New York officials urged commuters to work from home Monday as the strike threatens to disrupt travel for hundreds of thousands of riders across the region.

BBC - Janno Lieber stated, "And we refuse to make a deal that puts it on riders and taxpayers to fund outsized wage increases – far beyond what anyone else at the MTA is getting – and for folks who are already the highest-paid railroad workers in the country."

The Guardian - The shutdown of the Long Island Rail Road is now entering its second day.

The Guardian - Kathy Hochul stated, “Just three days of a strike would erase every dollar of additional salary that workers would receive under a new contract.”

The Guardian - The MTA was not expected to provide an update on the strike before a scheduled news conference at 11am.

The Guardian - The walkout is the first for the LIRR since a two-day strike in 1994.

The Guardian - The station was devoid of its usual weekend bustle, with only a few dozen people seen in the main concourse.

The Guardian - Departure boards at Penn Station listed ghost trains marked “No Passengers.”

The Guardian - Access to platforms was blocked off with bicycle-rack style barricades and roll-down gates.

The Guardian - If the stoppage continues into the workweek, approximately 250,000 people who ride the system each weekday will need to find alternative routes.

Gothamist - The MTA and unions are in stalled negotiations.

The Guardian - The Long Island Rail Road ceased operations just after midnight Friday due to a strike.

The Guardian - The strike is the first for the LIRR in 30 years.

The Guardian - The MTA plans to deploy shuttle buses beginning at 4am Monday.

The Guardian - The MTA is offering parking at Citi Field stadium for commuters.

The Guardian - The MTA has said it would provide limited shuttle buses to New York City subway stations.

WHERE:

Gothamist - The Long Island Rail Road serves New York City and its eastern suburbs.

The Guardian - The strike affects operations at Penn Station in Manhattan.

The Guardian - Citi Field stadium is home to the Mets.

WHEN:

BBC - The final year of the four-year contract begins in June.

ABC7 New York - The shuttle buses will not begin operating until Monday and will run only on weekdays.

The Guardian - The strike began at 12:01am Saturday.

The Guardian - The MTA plans to deploy shuttle buses beginning at 4am Monday.

WHY:

The Guardian - Hochul stated, “Let me be clear, I did not want a strike.”

The Guardian - Hochul urged all parties to bargain at the table and to get a deal done.

BBC - Lang added, "We don't want to be on the picket line. But after three years without raises, we cannot make any more compromises to cover for the MTA's mismanagement."

The Guardian - Hochul stated, “Just three days of a strike would erase every dollar of additional salary that workers would receive under a new contract.”

The Guardian - Hochul blamed the Trump administration for cutting mediation short, which contributed to the strike.

The Guardian - Negotiations between the unions and the MTA stalled over workers’ salaries and healthcare premiums.

The Guardian - Hochul stated, “Just three days of a strike would erase every dollar of additional salary that workers would receive under a new contract.”

ABC7 New York - Union representative Mike Carlucci criticized the lack of direct negotiations, stating, "I still remain disappointed that we're not talking right now."

ABC7 New York - Carlucci noted that two independent presidential boards have already reviewed the dispute and concluded the union's demands are reasonable.

ABC7 New York - The labor action follows three years of unsuccessful contract negotiations and two federal interventions.

The Guardian - Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that he had nothing to do with the strike and “never even heard about it until this morning.”

The Guardian - Hochul blamed the Trump administration for cutting mediation short, which contributed to the strike.

The Guardian - Trump responded, stating, “No, Kathy, it’s your fault, and now looking over the facts, you should not have allowed this to happen.”

The Guardian - Negotiations between the unions and the MTA stalled over workers’ salaries and healthcare premiums.

The Guardian - Kathy Hochul stated, “I did not want a strike,” and emphasized the need for a deal.

The Guardian - Hochul blamed the Trump administration for cutting mediation short, which pushed negotiations toward a strike.

HOW:

ABC7 New York - The National Mediation Board has summoned LIRR unions and the MTA to a meeting in Manhattan to help resume bargaining.

ABC News - Negotiators were working into the night to try to end the strike that has shut down North America’s largest commuter rail system.

ABC7 New York - Union representative Mike Carlucci criticized the lack of direct negotiations, stating, "I still remain disappointed that we're not talking right now."

ABC7 New York - Union leaders expressed frustration with the negotiation process, stating they received "proposal after proposal that is just regressive."

The Guardian - The unions were legally allowed to strike starting at 12:01am Saturday.

The Guardian - The MTA chairman stated that the agency “gave the union everything they said they wanted in terms of pay.”

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 17:42 UTC)

A strike has left around 300,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders without service, prompting the MTA to announce plans for limited free shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens, starting Monday and only on weekdays. While the parking lot at Citi Field will be open for those looking to take the 7 train, the shuttle buses will have far fewer seats than needed. Governor Hochul expressed her desire to avoid the strike and is urging all parties to return to the bargaining table, as the National Mediation Board has called a meeting in Manhattan to facilitate negotiations.

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 16:05 UTC)

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has announced a strike affecting the Long Island Rail Road, with General Chairman Gil Lang stating that the MTA left them no choice after three years without raises. The unions representing around 3,500 LIRR workers are demanding higher pay, as they reached a stalemate over the final year of a four-year contract that begins in June, while nearly a dozen striking workers are reportedly earning over $200,000 a year in overtime alone. Negotiators are currently working late into the night in hopes of resolving the situation and ending the strike that has shut down North America’s largest commuter rail system.

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 14:17 UTC)

The Long Island Rail Road shutdown is now entering its second day, marking the first walkout since a two-day strike in 1994, and if it continues into the workweek, around 250,000 daily riders will need to find alternative routes. New York officials are urging commuters to work from home on Monday as the strike threatens to disrupt travel for hundreds of thousands, while the MTA plans to provide limited shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens, starting at 4 a.m. Additionally, the National Mediation Board has called a meeting in Manhattan with LIRR unions and the MTA to help resume bargaining, as negotiations have stalled over issues like workers’ salaries and healthcare premiums.

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 12:03 UTC)

A strike affecting approximately 300,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders has led union workers to return to the picket lines, with union representative Mike Carlucci expressing disappointment over the lack of direct negotiations. The National Mediation Board has called for a meeting in Manhattan to facilitate resumed bargaining, while the MTA plans to offer limited free shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens starting Monday and running only on weekdays. Union leader Kevin Sexton emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that just three days of a strike could negate any salary increases workers would receive under a new contract.

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 08:16 UTC)

New York officials are urging commuters to work from home on Monday as a strike threatens to disrupt travel for hundreds of thousands of riders across the region. In response, the National Mediation Board has called a meeting in Manhattan with LIRR unions and the MTA to help resume bargaining, while the MTA plans to provide limited free shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens. Union representative Mike Carlucci expressed disappointment over the lack of direct negotiations, emphasizing that two independent presidential boards have already deemed the union's demands reasonable.

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 06:18 UTC)

Approximately 3,500 union workers, which is about half of the Long Island Rail Road workforce, have walked off the job amid frustrations over the lack of direct negotiations. In response, the National Mediation Board has called a meeting in Manhattan with LIRR unions and the MTA to help resume bargaining, while the MTA plans to offer limited free shuttle bus service from six Long Island stations to two subway hubs in Queens starting Monday and running only on weekdays. Union representative Mike Carlucci criticized the negotiation process, stating that they have received "proposal after proposal that is just regressive" following three years of unsuccessful contract talks and two federal interventions.

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 04:16 UTC)

Shuttle buses with a capacity for 13,000 will be deployed by the MTA starting at 4 a.m. Monday to assist essential workers getting into the city, while parking will be available at Citi Field for commuters to transfer to the seven train. Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized that the MTA has made fair offers and urged all parties to negotiate for a resolution. In a related development, Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that he had no involvement in the strike and only learned about it that morning.

(UPDATED May 17, 2026 23:13 UTC)

New York officials are urging commuters to work from home on Monday as a strike threatens to disrupt travel for hundreds of thousands of riders across the region. Janno Lieber emphasized that they refuse to agree to a deal that would place the burden of excessive wage increases on riders and taxpayers, especially for workers who are already the highest-paid railroad employees in the country. This situation is developing rapidly, and commuters are advised to stay informed about potential impacts on their travel plans.

(UPDATED May 17, 2026 21:11 UTC)

The Long Island Rail Road shutdown is now entering its second day, with the station unusually quiet and departure boards showing ghost trains marked "No Passengers." Governor Kathy Hochul has stated that just three days of a strike would erase every dollar of additional salary that workers would receive under a new contract, while Trump has countered her claims by saying it’s her fault and that she should not have allowed this situation to occur. If the stoppage continues into the workweek, around 250,000 daily riders will need to find alternative routes.

(UPDATED May 17, 2026 19:17 UTC)

A significant strike has halted operations of the Long Island Rail Road, affecting roughly 275,000 daily commuters and marking the first walkout in 30 years. The strike began at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after stalled negotiations between the MTA and five unions over workers’ salaries and healthcare premiums, with Governor Kathy Hochul expressing her desire to avoid the strike and blaming the Trump administration for cutting mediation efforts short. In response, the MTA plans to deploy shuttle buses starting at 4 a.m. Monday and is offering parking at Citi Field stadium for affected commuters.