LIRR Strike Delayed As Unions Request Presidential Emergency Board Intervention; MTA Responds

LONG ISLAND, NY — A looming Long Island Rail Road strike slated for this week — one that could have crippled almost 300,000 commuters trying to get to work — has been averted, union officials said Monday.

Union members spoke at a press conference Monday, stating that they would ask the Trump administration to step in by establishing a presidential emergency board. The board would review the fact, hear the parties and make recommendations to lead to a contract settlement, they said.

The news does not mean that a strike won't happen, they said — "but it won't happen now."

Regarding a timeline for the presidential emergency board, union leaders said a board would be established by September 18, with a 120-day status quo, with an establishment of the board. Within 30 days of the establishment of the board, there would be hearings and a recommendation to President Trump by the middle of October. If there is no settlement, the National Mediation Board would hold a public interest meeting. If there is still no agreement, in January, the 120-day period would run out. A second PEB board could also be convened, union leaders said, with a new date of mid-May marked for a possible agreement, to ensure the riders would be covered for service.

Kevin Sexton, vice-president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, a division of the Teamsters Rail Conference, was joined with members of five unions.

Jim Sokolowski, vice general chairman of Brotherhood of Railroad Signmalman said: "The simple facts of this dispute are as follows: The Long Island Rail Road and the MTA have money in their coffers. . . Therefore, the Long Island Rail Road bargaining coalition is willing to accept the terms of the contract already reached on the property for the first three years —3 percent, 3 percent, and three-and-a-half percent. But have proposed a fourth year that will make up the difference in the cost of living in the area in which the employees live. This is not greedy. The MTA can afford it and now it's time for the MTA to take care of their work force."

The bargaining coalition came together to negotiate a fair contract, better wages and working conditions under the Railway Labor Act, to keep pace with the rising cost of living, representatives said.

Union leaders accused the MTA of "demonizing" members and "negotiating in the press" and "in the headlines" rather than the bargaining table — and in creating fear amongst riders, whom union members said they cared about; hence, the request for a presidential emergency board.

An "overwhelming" 99 percent of members, who have gone more than three years without a raise, voted to strike if necessary, union leaders said.

To Governor Kathy Hochul, they said: "Stop making it about Washington and make it about New York."

"The strike is the last thing we want," union leaders said.

After the press conference, the MTA spoke out: A statement from MTA chief of policy and external relations John J. McCarthy said: "After months of radio silence, these outlier unions have finally admitted that they weren't serious about negotiating. They never had a plan to resolve this at the bargaining table. If these unions wanted to put riders first, they would either settle or agree to binding arbitration. And if they don’t want to strike, they should say so — and finally show up to the negotiating table. This cynical delay serves no one."

Hochul spoke out Monday about a looming Long Island Rail Road strike this week that she said could cripple almost 300,000 commuters just trying to get to work.

"The Long Island Rail Road is a lifeline for nearly 300,000 Long Islanders each day, and I stand firmly with every rider who simply wants to get to work, school, home, or anywhere else they need to go, without disruption," Hochul said.

"There is a fair offer on the table, and I have directed the MTA to be ready to negotiate anytime, anywhere. Unfortunately, five unions have refused to come to the table in good faith and rejected binding arbitration, putting riders at risk of an unnecessary strike. Both sides must return to negotiations and keep working around the clock until this is resolved."

A Long Island Rail strike was slated to take place as early as this week, shutting down services for nearly 300,000 people, officials said.

According to the MTA Long Island Railroad on Twitter last week: "LIRR service may shut down as early as September 18."

On Thursday, Metropolitan Transportation Authority leadership announced contingency service options, with the potential LIRR strike poised to cause major disruptions to service across the entire LIRR operating region.

And, the MTA said: "If a strike happens, LIRR service would be forced to shut down entirely."

In a statement, the MTA continued: "The MTA has bargained in good faith with the unions representing LIRR employees. However, some of those unions have rejected a contract that offered 9.5 percent wage increases over a period of three years, which approximately half of the LIRR workforce has already accepted. The terms offered would ensure that LIRR employees remain the highest-paid railroad employees in the country."

Five unions —about 3,400 workers or 49 percent — of the LIRR's workers, are asking for retroactive raises that would mean a raise of 16 percent from three years ago, according to the New York Post.

The strike would have been the first for the LIRR in more than 30 years, CBS News said.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, which represents 600 engineers, were slated to vote on Monday, ABC7 reported.

"A strike would hurt not only the riders who rely on the LIRR, but also many hardworking LIRR employees and their families, who will be left without pay because of unrealistic demands and their union leadership's refusal to negotiate," Hochul said.

"The reckless actions of the Trump administration’s National Mediation Board pushed this dispute toward a strike instead of keeping talks on track. Make no mistake, this is a strike encouraged by Donald Trump and enabled by his allies in Washington. I remain incredibly frustrated with the continued inaction and silence of Long Island's two Republican members of Congress."

The White House press office did not immediately return a request for comment.

Rep. Nick LaLota, who represents the 1st Congressional District on Long Island, fired back: "Everyone living in reality knows it’s Governor Hochul’s job to either reach a deal with the LRR unions or explain why she rejected their offer of 16 percent over four years. Anything else from America’s Worst Governor is just spin and distraction," he said.

"The Trump administration can prevent this right now by ordering both sides back to mediation. If they refuse, LIRR riders should know exactly who is to blame," Hochul said.

Meanwhile, the MTA had pitched a contingency plan.

"A strike would have a devastating impact on the nearly 300,000 passengers who depend on the LIRR to get where they need to go every single day. MTA leaders will continue to negotiate with the unions in an effort to ensure that a strike does not happen," the MTA said. "However, we want riders to be prepared in case employees do go on strike."

Should a strike have taken place, severe congestion and delays would have been expected; the MTA offered tips.

"Avoid nonessential travel and work from home if possible," the MTA said. "If you must commute, give yourself ample travel time, no matter which mode you take. There will be congestion on the roads and travel alternatives will be near or at capacity due to an influx of additional riders."

In the event of a strike, the MTA was set to provide limited shuttle bus service on weekdays for essential workers and those who cannot telecommute. Buses will run every 10 minutes during peak hours (toward Manhattan from 4:30 to 9 a.m. and to Long Island from 3 to 7 p.m.) from three LIRR stations to subway transfer points in Queens.

• Bellmore Station (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport
• Hicksville Station (LIRR) to Mets-Willets Point
• Ronkonkoma Station (LIRR) to Mets-Willets Point

NICE bus

Nassau County customers should also consider using the NICE bus to connect with Flushing-Main Street and the Jamaica bus terminal in Queens, which is a short walk from the 169 Street subway station, the MTA said.. See the full NICE bus network map here.

The MTA recommends using the following subway stations as passenger drop-off points. The stations are close to major roadways that lead to and from Long Island, the MTA said. The stations do not have parking lots, so residents should not plan to park there.

• Far Rockaway-Mott Av
• Kew Gardens-Union Tpke
• Mets-Willets Point
• Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd
• Parsons Blvd
• Sheepshead Bay
• Woodhaven Blvd