With North America’s largest commuter rail system shut down, New York Governor Kathy Hochul pleaded with unions representing workers for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to resume bargaining on Sunday, warning that both workers and hundreds of thousands of commuters stand to lose if the strike drags on.
“This is my official invitation. We didn’t want you to leave. You left. You’re welcome to come back. I’ll provide refreshments, whatever you like. Just c’mon back,” Hochul told a news conference as the strike—the first in three decades—entered its second day.
Hochul, appearing alongside the chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) that runs the railroad, pleaded with the unions to reach a deal before Monday’s morning commute. “We all know that the railroad is the lifeblood of Long Island. Without it, life as we know it is simply not possible. The bottom line is, no one wins in a strike. Everyone is hurt,” she said.
After the news conference, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Transportation Communications Union issued a joint statement, asserting that the workers “are not asking for special treatment—they are simply fighting to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of living in the New York region after years without a raise.”
The railroad, which serves New York City and its eastern suburbs, ceased operations just after midnight Friday when five unions representing about half its workforce walked off the job. The unions and the MTA have been negotiating for months on a new contract, with talks stalled over workers’ salaries and healthcare premiums. The Trump administration attempted to broker a deal, but the unions were legally permitted to strike starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, stated that no new negotiations have been scheduled. “We’re far apart at this point,” Sexton said Saturday. “We are truly sorry that we are in this situation.”
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber countered that the agency “gave the union everything they said they wanted in terms of pay” and believed the unions always intended to walk out. This is the first LIRR walkout since a two-day strike in 1994.
The strike promises to cause headaches for sports fans planning to see the Yankees and Mets or watch the Knicks’ playoff run at Madison Square Garden, located directly above the railroad’s Penn Station hub. On Saturday, the station was devoid of its usual weekend bustle, with only a few dozen people traversing the main concourse. Departure boards showed ghost trains marked “No Passengers,” and access to platforms was blocked off with barricades as MTA police officers directed people to alternative transportation.
If the stoppage continues into the workweek, roughly 250,000 daily riders will be forced to find other routes, likely navigating the region’s congested roads. Hochul, a Democrat, blamed the Trump administration for cutting mediation short, but Trump responded on Truth Social, stating he had nothing to do with the strike and “never even heard about it until this morning.” He added, “No, Kathy, it’s your fault… If you can’t solve it, let me know, and I’ll show you how to properly get things done.”
The MTA has announced plans for limited shuttle buses to New York City subway stations. Hochul urged companies and agencies to allow Long Island employees to work from home whenever possible. “It’s impossible to fully replace LIRR service. So effective Monday, I’m asking that regular commuters who can work from home, should. Please do so,” she said.
The MTA has argued that the unions’ initial demands for salary increases would lead to fare hikes and impact contract negotiations with other unionized workers. The unions, representing locomotive engineers, machinists, signalmen, and other train workers, maintain that more substantial raises are needed to keep up with inflation and rising living costs.
