NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pleaded with unions representing workers for the Long Island Rail Road, North America鈥檚 largest commuter rail system, to resume bargaining Sunday, saying the workers and hundreds of thousands of commuters stand to lose if a strike drags on.
鈥淭his is my official invitation. We didn鈥檛 want you to leave. You left. You鈥檙e welcome to come back. I鈥檒l provide refreshments, whatever you like. Just c鈥檓on back,鈥� Hochul told a news conference as the strike 鈥� the first in three decades 鈥� entered its second day.
Hochul, appearing with the chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that runs the railroad more commonly known by commuters as the 鈥淟IRR,鈥� pleaded with the unions to try to reach a deal before Monday’s morning commute.
鈥淲e all know that the railroad is the lifeblood of Long Island. Without it, life as we know it is simply not possible. The bottom line is, no one wins in a strike. Everyone is hurt,鈥� she said.
After the news conference, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Transportation Communications Union said in a statement that the union workers 鈥渁re not asking for special treatment 鈥� they are simply fighting to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of living in the New York region after years without a raise.鈥�
The railroad, which serves New York City and its eastern suburbs, ceased operations and just after midnight Friday after five unions representing about half its workforce walked off the job.
The unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the public agency that runs the railroad, have been on a new contract, with talks stalled over the question of workers’ salaries and healthcare premiums. President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration tried to broker a deal, but the unions were legally allowed to strike starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, has said no new negotiations have been scheduled.
鈥淲e鈥檙e far apart at this point,鈥� Sexton said Saturday. 鈥淲e are truly sorry that we are in this situation.鈥�
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said the agency 鈥済ave the union everything they said they wanted in terms of pay鈥� and that to him it was apparent the unions always intended to walk out.
First LIRR walkout since 1994
The walkout, the first for the LIRR since a two-day strike in 1994, promises to cause headaches for sports fans planning to see the Yankees and Mets battle this weekend or to watch the Knicks鈥� playoff run at Madison Square Garden, which is located directly above the railroad鈥檚 Penn Station hub in Manhattan.
The station was devoid of its usual weekend bustle in the afternoon Saturday. Only a few dozen people were seen traversing the main concourse, many dragging rolling luggage from departing or arriving Amtrak trains, which are not affected by the strike.
Departure boards normally showing upcoming trains by destination instead listed ghost trains marked 鈥淣o Passengers.鈥� A few signs affixed to customer service windows explained that the railroad was shut down because of a strike.
Access to platforms was blocked off with bicycle-rack style barricades and roll-down gates as MTA police officers stood sentry, directing people to alternative transportation.
Shutdown could severely disrupt weekday commuting
If the stoppage continues into the workweek, the roughly 250,000 people who ride the system each weekday will be forced to find other routes to the city from its Long Island suburbs. For many that likely means navigating the region鈥檚 notoriously congested roads.
Hochul, a Democrat, blamed the Trump administration for cutting mediation short and pushing the negotiations toward a strike. Trump, a Republican, responded on his Truth Social platform, saying he had nothing to do with the strike and 鈥渘ever even heard about it until this morning.鈥�
鈥淣o, Kathy, it鈥檚 your fault, and now looking over the facts, you should not have allowed this to happen,鈥� Trump said, renewing his endorsement of Long Island politician Bruce Blakeman, who is challenging Hochul鈥檚 reelection bid. 鈥淚f you can鈥檛 solve it, let me know, and I鈥檒l show you how to properly get things done.鈥�
The MTA has said it plans limited shuttle buses to New York City subway stations. Hochul urged companies and agencies that employ workers from Long Island to let them work from home whenever possible.
鈥淚t鈥檚 impossible to fully replace LIRR service. So effective Monday, I鈥檓 asking that regular commuters who can work from home, should. Please do so,鈥� she said.
The MTA has said the unions鈥� initial demands to raise salaries would have led to fare increases and impacted contract negotiations with other unionized workers.
The unions, which represent locomotive engineers, machinists, signalmen and other train workers, have said more substantial raises were warranted to help workers keep up with inflation and rising living costs.
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