Long Island Rail Road riders will stay on track – for now.
A strike that promised to cause travel nightmares for “screwed” commuters was shelved for at least several months as union officials took an unprecedented move Monday to get the Trump administration involved.
A coalition of five unions wants the feds to put together a presidential emergency board in hopes of reaching a settlement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and avoid a service suspension — as they took numerous shots at the transit agency and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“This action does not mean a strike won’t happen,” said Gil Lang, the general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s LIRR engineers. “But it does mean it won’t happen now.”
Union officials want the feds to weigh in as members threaten an LIRR strike. Eyewitness News ABC7NY
The unions want the Trump administration to put together an emergency board to review proposals. APThe federal board could review proposals from both sides and offer recommendations during mediations that could pave the way for a new contract for about half of LIRR workers who were threatening to strike, the union heads said.
While the contract fight goes through the federal process, LIRR riders could avoid strike until mid-May if no deal is reached, union officials said.
The LIRR alerted commuters that service on Thursday, September 18, could be paused due to a looming strike. Michael NagleMembers of the five unions have all authorized going on strike if and when the time arrives.
The looming strike had riders on edge as MTA leaders worked to sort out a contingency plan, including telling passengers to work from home if possible and providing bus service for essential workers.
About 270,000 commuters rely on the rail system to get them between the Queens and Long Island region and New York City daily. An LIRR strike has not taken place since 1994 and lasted two days.
LIRR officials had warned commuters that a strike was possible. Michael NagleUnion officials assailed their counterparts for drumming up a “scare campaign” to “demonize” workers during contract negotiations.
Jim Louis, the national vice president of BLET, said he had never heard of unions making a request for an emergency board during his long career.
“I can say in my 49 years in the rail industry, this request by the unions is a first,” he said.
The MTA fired back Monday following the unions’ announcement.
“After months of radio silence, these outlier unions have finally admitted that they weren’t serious about negotiating. They never had a plan to resolve this at the bargaining table,” MTA spokesperson John McCarthy said in a statement.
Commuters board a LIRR train at the Jamaica Station. Michael Nagle“If these unions wanted to put riders first, they would either settle or agree to binding arbitration. And if they don’t want to strike, they should say so – and finally show up to the negotiating table. This cynical delay serves no one.”
The governor, for her part, also said the White House should step in — but to tell the unions they aren’t allowed to strike.
“We have to get away from the strike language and the White House and others should be using their power to say ‘you’re not allowed to strike,'” Hochul told reporters at an unrelated press event upstate. “‘You cannot strike. Work it out at the table and that’s it.'”
The group of labor organizations and the MTA were at odds – apparently hopelessly – over how much of a pay increase the roughly 3,400 workers should receive.
- The MTA is fighting to dole out a pay bump of 9.5% to workers over three years.
- The unions want an additional 6.5% bump for a fourth year, for 16%.
- The MTA said the unions would need to surrender concessions on existing work rules that “significantly inflate salaries,” for the larger pay increase, LIRR President Rob Free previously said.
Union leaders during Wednesday’s press conference accused the MTA and the state of using LIRR riders as “pawns” during contract negotiations.”
“The MTA will continue to play their games and scare people,” BLET vice president Kevin Sexton said. “Maybe after today they might dial it down a little.”
He claimed the union is only asking for the “status quo when it comes to the cost of living,” but insisted the MTA rather stall on figuring out an agreement.
Leading up to Monday’s announcement, LIRR riders were panicked over how they’d get to work if a service was scrapped until a contract was reached.
“It’s a nightmare. I’m screwed, I have to go in everyday,” said a 37-year-old man who spends about $400 monthly to travel into the city. “I’m going to have to just drive unfortunately.”
Shannon P., 39, said the strike would’ve “definitely” affected her.
“If the railroad goes on strike, I wouldn’t be able to make it to work,” she said at Grand Central Station. “Well, I don’t drive so I solely rely on taking the train to work.”
