A potential Long Island Rail Road strike is looming on May 16, setting up what could be the first major work stoppage on the commuter rail system in more than three decades if no deal is reached between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and its unionized employees.
For the thousands of daily riders who rely on the LIRR across Nassau County and beyond, the prospect of a shutdown is already raising concerns about how it would disrupt commutes, school schedules and everyday routines.
“Obviously, we all take public transportation for a reason," said Rockville Centre commuter Darian Borluca. "So if there was a strike, it would definitely affect everyone getting to their day-to-day life, so [the LIRR should] do what the employees want and raise their [salaries] so they can get paid more.”
At the center of the dispute are issues with pay and working conditions. Union leaders are seeking a retroactive 9.5 percent wage increase for the past three years, and an additional 5 percent raise starting this year.
The MTA, meanwhile, is offering raises but wants changes to work rules and productivity standards in return, saying it must control costs and protect the system’s long-term financial stability.
Two Presidential Emergency Boards were convened between September 2025 and last month to help resolve the dispute between the LIRR and a coalition of five rail unions representing a majority of its workforce. Both boards sided with the unions, rejecting the MTA’s proposed work rule changes and recommending wage increases, helping to set the stage for the current standoff.
The dispute involves more than 3,500 workers represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division; the Transportation Communications Union/IAM; the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Michael Sullivan, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, said frustration is mounting among union leaders as negotiations have stalled in recent weeks, with no follow-up meetings currently scheduled.
“I’m frustrated because we didn’t really speak about anything of substance, and they were not able to even put anything on the calendar,” Sullivan said. “They said that they would reach out to us, and they have not.”
Sullivan added that the unions believe the recent recommendations by the federal mediation boards should serve as a foundation for a deal, arguing that labor has already adjusted its position, while the MTA has yet to respond with a counteroffer.
“We believe that we moved a lot off of our position twice, and they have not moved at all,” he said.
The two sides last met on March 20, continuing negotiations under federal oversight after months of delays that have repeatedly pushed back the possibility of a strike, which would be the LIRR’s first since 1994.
Among riders, opinions are mixed — with some expressing sympathy for workers’ demands, while also acknowledging the burden a strike would place on commuters.
“As a student, I can drive, but I drive to the train station because I prefer that over the hustle and bustle of driving all the way out," said Rockville Centre resident Nicholas Mendes. "So it would definitely just put more on my plate and make life a little unnecessarily harder.”
“If they're not being treated fairly then they should do what's necessary to get the type of compensation that they're looking for,” said LIRR commuter Timothy Pena, who was attending a veterans event in Rockville Centre.
“I feel like they should get paid more," said an LIRR commuter who only identified himself as Alex. "And I feel like there's always a fine line between how much it potentially impacts the customer and how much community support you have for the railroad workers, because how much it is an inconvenience for us.”
MTA CEO Janno Lieber stressed the financial impact of a potential walkout, and urged continued negotiations.
“It is insane for us to have a strike, not just because the harm it does to Long Islanders and to their economy, but because three days of a strike will wipe out 1.1 percent of wage raises that you are fighting for,” he said of the union workers. “The nurses just finished a strike, and they had it for several weeks. And it’s no secret that a lot of people lost the value of several years of wage increases because of the duration of the strike.
“So, what we said to them is, look out for your members,” Lieber continued. “We understand you’re fighting for compensation. But let’s sit down and figure out how do we give you a little bit more money than maybe the pattern increases and offset it with some productivity improvements.”
LIRR President Rob Free, referring to the findings of the Presidential Emergency Boards, said the reports acknowledged the need to address work rules even if they were not included in the final recommendations.
“It’s important, if you read it, they also did cite that work rules were out there,” Free said, “and it was a good idea to talk about a couple of the work rules.”
