Second Presidential Emergency Board sides with LIRR unions again in contract dispute with MTA, raising strike concerns
Under the federal Railway Labor Act, if both sides fail to reach an agreement within the next 60 days, unions could be allowed to strike as soon as May 16.
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The second Presidential Emergency Board issued recommendations Monday supporting rail labor unions in its negotiations with the Long Island Rail Road. The board recommended pay raises and retroactive pay for workers who have not received a raise since 2022.
It also rejected the MTA’s proposal to change certain contract work rules. Union leaders say the ruling reinforces their position.
“It’s just time to get this deal done,” said Kevin Sexton, of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. “We’ve now been before two presidential emergency boards. Both boards have heard all the facts in their entirety, and the boards have concluded that what we’re asking for is more than reasonable.”
The MTA said it was disappointed with the decision.
In a statement to News 12, the agency said its proposal was “common sense” and accused the unions of refusing to negotiate.
“If these unions decline to begin good-faith negotiations, the LIRR will have no choice but to prepare for a needless work stoppage that would only hurt both riders and workers,” MTA chief labor and employee relations officer Anita Miller said.
Union leaders say a strike is not something they want, but they warn it could happen if a deal is not reached.
“That’s the last thing we want. We don’t want to leave commuters stranded on the platforms,” Sexton said.
Under the federal Railway Labor Act, if both sides fail to reach an agreement within the next 60 days, unions could be allowed to strike as soon as May 16.
A potential work stoppage could disrupt the daily commute for thousands of Long Island Rail Road riders.
