MTA Reaches Deal With Unions to End Long Island Rail Road Strike

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and five unions representing rail workers have reached an agreement to end the strike that disrupted services on the Long Island Rail Road, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on May 18.

Hochul said in a post on X that both sides have reached “a fair deal” that will deliver “raises for workers while protecting riders and taxpayers.”

“I’m pleased to announce that phased LIRR service will resume beginning tomorrow at noon,” the governor wrote.

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), the largest commuter rail system in North America, was shut down on May 16 after about 3,500 employees—including engineers, signal workers, machinists, electricians, and communications workers—from a coalition of five unions walked off the job following failed negotiations with the MTA on wage raises.

The LIRR carries nearly 300,000 passengers on an average weekday and ranks as the busiest commuter railroad in the United States.

The coalition of five unions said in a post on X that they reached a tentative agreement with the MTA on May 18, though the terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Mark Wallace, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), one of the unions, said in a May 18 statement that “the final decision rests with the membership.”

The union said it will hold a ratification vote among its members on the tentative deal in the coming days.

“Throughout these negotiations, our members stood together for a fair agreement that recognizes the dedication and sacrifices railroad workers make every day while keeping pace with the rising cost of living,” Wallace said. “This was never about seeking more than what is fair — it was about securing the respect and economic security our members have earned.”

LIRR President Robert Free said on May 18 that the system’s major commuter lines will begin running trains by noon on May 19, with full service to all branches by the afternoon rush hour.

The MTA stated on its website that limited shuttle bus service will be available on Tuesday for essential workers and commuters who are unable to telecommute, while asking customers to work from home again on Tuesday if possible.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which is part of the coalition, said in a May 16 statement that the strike occurred “after years of stalled negotiations, four years without raises for many workers, and repeated failures” by the MTA and LIRR to reach a fair contract.

The two sides had been negotiating a new contract since 2023. The unions said that LIRR workers have been seeking a contract that “keeps pace with the rising cost of living on Long Island after years without raises, despite recommendations from federal panels supporting wage increases.”

Kimberly Hayek and The Associated Press contributed to this report.