"The Long Island Rail Road that serves the city's eastern suburbs ceased operations early Saturday morning after five unions representing about half its workforce walked off the job. The two sides have been negotiating for months on a new contract, and President Donald Trump's administration had even interceded to try and broker a deal. But the unions were legally allowed to strike starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday."
"Kevin Sexton of the National Vice President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen said no new negotiations have been scheduled. "We're far apart at this point," Sexton said early Saturday. "We are truly sorry that we are in this situation." Janno Lieber, the MTA chairman, said the agency "gave the union everything they said they wanted in terms of pay" and that to him it was apparent the unions always intended to walk out."
"The walkout, the first for the LIRR since a two-day strike in 1994, promises to cause headaches for some sports fans planning to see the crosstown baseball rivals the New York Yankees and Mets battle this weekend or to watch the NBA's New York Knicks playoff run at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Both sports venues have dedicated LIRR stops. If the shutdown continues past the weekend, the roughly 250,000 people who ride the system to and from work each weekday will be forced to find alternative routes into New York City from its Long Island suburbs."
"Duane O'Connor, picketer: "I feel terrible. Terrible. This is going to hurt. This is going to hurt the island, this is going to hurt the city, they think they can push us around and we're supposed just fall in line. All we are asking for is fair wages. Record inflation the last few years. Our contract goes back three years, it's not going forward, so we went through those record inflationary years and th"
The Long Island Rail Road, serving New York City’s eastern suburbs, stopped operating early Saturday after five unions representing about half its workforce walked off the job. Negotiations for a new contract had continued for months, with federal involvement from President Donald Trump’s administration, but the unions were legally allowed to strike starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. No new negotiations were scheduled, and the parties remained far apart. The MTA chairman said the agency provided the pay terms the unions requested and believed the unions intended to walk out. The shutdown disrupted plans for weekend sports events and could force about 250,000 weekday riders to use alternative routes if it continues.
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