Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/lirr-strike-shuts-down-busiest-commuter-rail-line/
New York’s Long Island Rail Road workers go on strike, halting busiest commuter rail line in US – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Commuters across Long Island and into New York City woke up to empty platforms and canceled trains on Saturday morning after workers on the Long Island Rail Road walked off the job at midnight. The action marks the first full shutdown of the nation’s busiest commuter rail system in more than three decades and immediately stranded hundreds of thousands of riders who rely on the line for daily travel to work and school. Negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and five unions representing more than 3,500 employees broke down over wages and working conditions, leaving no last-minute agreement in place.
Pay Dispute at the Center of the Walkout
The unions have pressed for annual raises that reach 5 percent in the final year of a new contract to keep pace with inflation and the high cost of living on Long Island. The MTA countered with smaller increases, warning that larger raises would force higher fares, additional state taxes, or cuts elsewhere in the system. Both sides had continued bargaining into the final hours before the deadline, yet the gap remained too wide to prevent the strike.
Union leaders described the MTA’s latest offer as insufficient and noted that many members had not seen meaningful gains in recent contracts. MTA officials, in turn, emphasized the need for fiscal…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-05-16 05:19:00
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