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Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Monday (May 18) that a deal has been reached to end the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) strike, which began on Saturday (May 16). The strike had halted service on North America's largest commuter rail system, affecting approximately 300,000 daily commuters. The agreement between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and five LIRR unions will see phased service resuming on Tuesday at noon.
The strike commenced after negotiations over a new contract stalled, primarily due to disagreements over salary increases and healthcare contributions. The unions demanded a 5% raise for the fourth year of their contracts, while the MTA initially offered 3%, later suggesting a 4.5% increase with certain concessions. Union leaders had called for the strike after the MTA proposed higher healthcare contributions for new hires.
The strike led to significant disruptions, with commuters forced to find alternative transportation methods, such as shuttle buses and carpooling. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman criticized the emergency provisions, noting that only 2,100 people used the extra buses on Monday. He urged commuters to carpool and utilize free parking at county parks.
Governor Hochul had previously blamed former President Donald Trump for the strike, citing the release of unions from mediation during his administration. However, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen's national vice president, James Louis, clarified that the release was approved by Biden-appointed members of the National Mediation Board.
The strike's resolution came after intense negotiations, with both sides meeting multiple times over the weekend. MTA Chief Negotiator Gary Dellaverson noted that discussions focused on financial terms, with healthcare contributions for new hires being a key issue. Despite the strike's end, officials warned that it would take time to restore full service, urging commuters to prepare for continued disruptions.