NEW YORK — Long Island Rail Road service has resumed after the MTA and five LIRR unions reached a contract agreement Tuesday night, ending a strike that disrupted travel for Long Island commuters.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the deal on Tuesday, May 19.
The agreement covers roughly 3,500 Long Island Rail Road employees. Hochul said the deal provides fair wages for workers while avoiding additional fare or tax increases for riders and taxpayers.
The strike suspended LIRR service and forced riders to find alternatives, including working from home, using limited shuttle buses or relying on already crowded roadways and transit connections. The MTA had warned that there was no real substitute for the railroad, which carries nearly 300,000 passengers on a typical weekday.
Hochul thanked Long Islanders and employers who adjusted during the disruption, as well as the MTA negotiating team and labor leaders involved in the talks. She said the MTA had prepared for the strike with shuttle buses, staffing and commuter support, but framed the agreement as the outcome riders needed most.
The deal ends a tense standoff between the authority and unions over pay and affordability. MTA leaders had previously argued they could not accept a contract that would strain the agency’s budget or force higher costs onto riders and taxpayers, while union leaders pushed for better wages for railroad employees.
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