LIRR unions, MTA hold sudden bargaining session as strike deadline nears
The impromptu talks were set in motion during an MTA board meeting in Manhattan, where tensions briefly flared.
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With just over two weeks remaining before a possible Long Island Rail Road strike, union leaders and MTA officials headed back to the negotiating table Wednesday for an unexpected bargaining session.
The impromptu talks were set in motion during an MTA board meeting in Manhattan, where tensions briefly flared. A union representative publicly accused the agency of refusing to negotiate — prompting MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber to immediately call for talks to begin.
Five LIRR unions are currently threatening to strike if no agreement is reached by May 16. The unions are seeking a 14.5 percent wage increase over four years. The MTA has pushed back, raising concerns about how to fund the raises and calling for changes to what it describes as costly and outdated work rules.
MTA Chief Financial Officer Jai Patel has warned that an 8 percent fare increase in 2027 could be necessary to cover the proposed salary hikes.
At the board meeting, Gilman Lang of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen said unions are prepared to negotiate immediately. “We have made compromises in our ask and are ready to sit down at the bargaining table to reach an agreement now,” Lang said. “However, an agreement cannot be reached when one side refuses to come to the table.”
Lieber responded by inviting union leaders to begin discussions on the spot. “Let’s go in the back and negotiate,” he said, noting that key MTA labor and LIRR officials were present and ready.
As negotiations resume, the MTA has also released its contingency plan should a strike occur. Shuttle buses would transport commuters from designated pickup points on Long Island to subway stations in Queens. The planned routes include:
Huntington to Jamaica–179th Street (F line)
Ronkonkoma to Jamaica–179th Street (F line)
Hicksville to Howard Beach–JFK Airport (A line)
Mineola to Howard Beach–JFK Airport (A line)
Hempstead Lake State Park to Howard Beach–JFK Airport (A line)
