Thursday, October 1, 2026
A potential Long Island Rail Road strike on Sept. 18 threatens to disrupt commutes for more than 270,000 daily riders, after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority warned that talks with five unions remain deadlocked over wages and work rules.
During a news conference at Penn Station on Sept. 11, MTA President Rob Free said negotiations broke down after the National Mediation Board expedited the release of the unions, opening the door for a strike that could begin at 12:01 a.m. next Thursday.
The last LIRR strike occurred in 1994.
“We have attempted to negotiate in good faith with these five remaining labor organizations,” Free said. “A fair offer has been made and accepted by the majority of all the other represented employees at the Long Island Rail Road, including the largest union, SMART, and four others.”
The five remaining unions include the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Transportation Communications Union. Together, they form the Long Island Rail Road Bargaining Coalition, which represents 55 percent of the unionized workforce with the LIRR.
According to the MTA, its current offer includes a 9.5 percent wage increase over three years — a package that Free said has been ratified by most of the railroad’s workforce. But the holdout unions are seeking an additional 6.5 percent raise on top of the existing deal, without concessions on work rules the MTA says are “outdated.”
“Locomotive engineers make over $49 an hour currently. The average salary is over $160,000 a year, with top earners above $300,000,” Free said. “That’s largely the result of antiquated work rules that allow multiple days’ pay for one day of work. And now they want a bigger raise while keeping those rules in place.”
The 809 members of the BRS voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike as a result of the ongoing contract dispute.
“[The] Long Island Rail Road has not negotiated in good faith and has not been serious from the onset of bargaining,” said BRS Vice President of Commuters and Passengers Tim Tarrant in a statement. “[The] LIRR’s on-time performance has never been better and it’s time for them to recognize their hard-working men and women by offering a fair contract that keeps up with the cost of living in New York.”
BRS General Chairman Mike Sullivan echoed Tarrant’s sentiments.
“Our members will not stand for a contract that results in a loss of real wages, and we are prepared to use all means available to achieve a fair contract,” he said in the same statement.
The Taylor Law, or Public Employees' Fair Employment Act, makes MTA strikes illegal under state law as it prohibits public employees from striking and provides alternative dispute resolution methods. It was enacted in 1967 in response to the 1966 transit strike and imposes penalties, including fines and loss of pay, on striking workers and their unions.
However, LIRR workers are governed by the federal Railway Labor Act, which allows for strikes, creating a unique situation within the MTA system.
MTA officials stressed that while they hope to avoid a strike, plans are in place to provide limited service if it happens. Shuttle buses will run every 10 minutes during weekday rush hours from three Long Island Rail Road stations: Bellmore, Hicksville, and Ronkonkoma.
From there, riders will be transported to key subway connections in Queens, including Howard Beach on the A train and the Mets–Willets Point stop on the 7 line.
“We couldn’t possibly replace the full service that LIRR runs every day, but we are trying our best to accommodate those essential workers in an effort to not leave anyone stranded,” said Shanifah Rieara, MTA senior adviser for communications and policy.
Rieara added that the buses would only run during morning and evening peak hours.
The MTA also advised riders to use Nassau Inter-County Express buses to reach Flushing or Jamaica for additional subway connections. Riders with monthly passes will receive prorated refunds for strike days, pending board approval.
The strike would also impact the upcoming Ryder Cup, which is scheduled for Sept. 23-28 at Bethpage Black.
“Does the union really want to disrupt that and have that on their heads — that they caused Long Island to miss out on this huge economic boom?” Free said.
Still, Free emphasized that the MTA is willing to return to talks immediately.
“We’ll meet with them any time, any place,” he said.
This story will be updated if necessary.
