LIRR workers holding day of action as strike looms over MTA negotiations

Unions representing thousands of Long Island Rail Road workers are rallying Saturday amid a dispute with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that could trigger their first strike in decades. 

The LIRR workers demonstration at Massapequa Station in Nassau County is part of a day of action after contract negotiations with the MTA stalled, the five unions said. 

Without a deal, the commuter rail's first strike since June 1994 could start as soon as May 16, halting train service for hundreds of thousands of daily riders. 

Rally supporting LIRR workers

Hundreds of unionized LIRR workers gathered in the Massapequa train station parking lot as the rally kicked off at around 10 a.m. Saturday. 

They came with passion and perseverance, arguing for better salaries with the threat of a major commuter disruption looming: a total shutdown of the LIRR starting in one week. 

"Our members are very frustrated: they have gone years without a raise, and they want the trains to keep moving," Kevin Sexton, vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said in a statement announcing the rally. "But [the MTA] won't agree to a concessionary contract when the cost-of-living on Long Island has dramatically increased and the MTA has a strong balance sheet due to Congestion Pricing, expanded LIRR service, and other sources of revenue. Labor merely wants a close to break-even contract." 

The MTA said it offered a 3% pay raise, while the unions said they're asking for 5%. The agency warned the 2% gap could lead to increased fares systemwide, including on the LIRR, Metro-North Railroad, and New York City subways and buses. 

"At this point, we're getting close enough that it would be, I think, crazy for the workforce, who is looking for more money, to throw it away by going on a strike," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said at a Friday news conference. 

Where negotiations stand 

Negotiations are ongoing, but the sides have been giving different narratives about how the talks are progressing.

The unions said Friday that talks stalled. But the MTA said they got closer to an agreement and were waiting for the union to respond to new proposals. 

"It's time for everyone to get serious about the fact that if you go on strike for one day, you are literally flushing money down the toilet for your workers, and I don't think these unions really want to do that. We are close enough that we should be able to resolve this," Lieber said. 

In response to Lieber, the unions said there was no urgency from the MTA and no official talks were scheduled until Monday.

"We wanted to negotiate over the last 40 days ... so that we wouldn't be facing this. Unfortunately, we have not had a willing partner," said Gil Lang, general chairman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. 

Lieber said he expected casual discussions to occur over the weekend. 

LIRR strike contingency plan

The MTA shared its initial Long Island Rail Road strike contingency plan for some 300,000 riders on its website.

In the event of a shutdown, it says shuttle bus service would be provided from five Long Island locations to subway stations in Queens:

• Bay Shore (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport A
• Hempstead Lake State Park, near Lakeview (LIRR), to Howard Beach-JFK Airport A
• Hicksville (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport A
• Huntington (LIRR) to Jamaica-179 St F at Hillside Av and 179 St
• Mineola (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport A
• Ronkonkoma (LIRR) to Jamaica-179 St F at Hillside Av and 179 St

The agency also encouraged riders to work from home during the strike, if possible.