LIRR strike ends as MTA reaches deal with unions after chaotic commute

A three-day LIRR strike ended after the MTA reached a tentative agreement with five labor unions representing more than half the workforce. The unions had worked without a raise since 2023. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced phased LIRR service would resume Tuesday at noon and said the deal would not require additional fare hikes or tax increases. Regular service would remain suspended Tuesday morning due to insufficient time to position crews. Limited shuttle bus service would continue through the Tuesday morning rush, and commuters were urged to work from home if possible. The agreement aims to balance fair worker compensation with affordability for riders. Details were not immediately released, and the deal still requires union ratification and MTA board approval.

"Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday night that phased LIRR service would resume beginning Tuesday at noon after the MTA reached what she called a "fair deal" with the striking unions. She also said the agreement would not require additional fare hikes or tax increases. LIRR officials said regular service will remain suspended Tuesday morning because there is not enough time to get crews into position to run trains."

"Speaking to reporters on Monday night, Hochul said the agreement strikes a balance between fairly compensating workers and avoiding additional costs for riders. "Their work is critical for the entire region and they deserve a fair wage," she said. "I also would not accept a deal that would compromise affordability for Long Islanders. At a time when everything is going up, we all know the story, I was not going to allow taxes or fares to go up.""

"The MTA said limited shuttle bus service would continue through the Tuesday morning rush while crews work to restore train service. Officials said commuters should still work from home if possible. The agreement is expected to restore service on the nation's busiest commuter railroad after the three-day strike disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of riders and forced many commuters to work from home, drive into the city or rely on limited shuttle bus service."

"Details of the tentative agreement, which still must be ratified by union members and approved by the MTA board, were not immediately made public. But the MTA had pushed hard for several reforms to work rules, including nixing double pay for engineers who drive a diesel and electric locomotive during the same shift and restriction"

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