Talks to avert LIRR strike end for the day Wednesday. More talks are set for Thursday
Face-to-face meetings between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Long Island Rail Road unions that are poised to strike ended Wednesday at 2 p.m. with proposals exchanged but no deal.
More talks are scheduled Thursday.
The clock is ticking for both sides to agree by the Saturday morning deadline.
The MTA and the unions met in Manhattan. The remaining sticking point remains wages in the fourth year of a contract.
The MTA says it has offered up to 4.5% with work rule concessions. The unions are pushing for 5%, as recommended by a federal panel. The 3,500 workers include electricians, locomotive engineers, signal inspectors, machinists and ticket clerks.
MTA officials say agreeing to those demands would require higher fares system-wide, including subways, buses and Metro North.
The railroad's locomotive engineers are among the highest paid in the nation.
Union representatives told CBS News New York's Carolyn Gusoff they are not looking for "games and gimmicks." They said they want wages that will keep up with inflation.
"They've come up. They're taking money out of our right pocket and put it in our left pocket," said Karl Bishoff of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
"We have been without a raise for three years now," said Duane O'Connor of BLET. "We don't want to disrupt the island and the city."
MTA officials said they have a lump sum offer on the table. An MTA official expressed hope that a deal was reachable.
The last LIRR strike was in 1994, and lasted two days.
Contingency plans for strike
Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday she believes a deal can still be made.
"There is only one way to be avoided. Both need to negotiate in good faith," Hochul said.
Commuters are starting to think about an alternative plan if no deal is reached.
Ronkonkoma will be one of six stations with shuttle buses to subway stations in Queens.
Commuters are thinking through their Plan B.
"I probably have to commute by car, have my wife drop me off, or come up with a situation. I don't even know," said David Sainphor.
"It is an inconvenience for us riders, but at the same time, I support that they need to get fair wages," said another man.
"I guess I would have to take the bus, but that's a whole complicated thing," a woman said.
"There is an impact on everybody. If there is a strike, my customers won't be going to work," business owner Michael Gould said.
Buses can't fully replace the nation's largest commuter railroad.
"Give yourself time, and if you can stay home and work from home, do it," said Charlton D'Souza of Passengers United.
AAA spokesperson Rob Sinclair is warning of regional gridlock if service shuts down.
"You've got extra buses on the road and extra vehicles on the roads," he said. "It might take three or four hours to get where you need to go, especially if you're going into Manhattan."
Mets planning shuttle buses in event of strike
There will be additional shuttles taking Mets and Yankees fans to Citi Field if the LIRR is shut down due to a strike.
The teams are set to face off this weekend in the Subway Series.
Mets officials said more shuttles will be added to existing Long Island routes, and a new line will depart from the Manhasset LIRR Station.
Shuttle tickets are $8.99 per ticket for round-trip service or $25 for a family of four for the new route. The other routes are $8 round trip or $22 for a family of four.
Fans will automatically receive refunds if there is no strike and the shuttle service isn't needed.
Other routes on Long Island depart from Walt Whitman Shops and the Roosevelt Field Mall. There are also two routes from New Jersey and one in the Bronx.
