Long Island Rail Road Strike Begins, Paralyzing North America's Busiest Commuter Rail
A strike has begun on New York's Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) after labor unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) failed to reach an agreement. North America's busiest commuter rail system is now paralyzed.
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- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 18:25
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Central News Agency, New York, 16th - North America's busiest commuter rail system, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in New York State, was paralyzed by a strike that began early this morning after negotiations between unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) broke down yesterday.
Associated Press reports that five unions, representing about half of the LIRR's total 7,000 employees, legally went on strike after 12:01 a.m. today after failing to reach a new agreement in negotiations with the MTA. LIRR employees include drivers, mechanics, and signalmen.
Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said no new talks are currently scheduled between labor and management. "At this stage, our positions are very far apart. We are truly sorry for this situation (the strike)."
The strike will force commuters living on Long Island, a suburb of New York City, who normally take the approximately 250,000 daily trips, to find alternative routes into the city or choose to work from home. In other words, already congested highways will see even more vehicles, and commute times will lengthen.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has urged affected passengers to work from home during the strike. The MTA plans to offer a limited, free shuttle bus service for essential workers during peak weekday commuting hours.
The LIRR averted a strike last September when the Donald Trump administration agreed to help with negotiations, but those efforts ultimately failed to produce an agreement. The two sides then had a 60-day period to try again to resolve their differences, otherwise the unions could legally strike and the rail authority could legally lock out employees. That deadline expired at 12:01 a.m. today. (Compiled by: Chang Cheng-chien) 1150516
Associated Press reports that five unions, representing about half of the LIRR's total 7,000 employees, legally went on strike after 12:01 a.m. today after failing to reach a new agreement in negotiations with the MTA. LIRR employees include drivers, mechanics, and signalmen.
Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said no new talks are currently scheduled between labor and management. "At this stage, our positions are very far apart. We are truly sorry for this situation (the strike)."
The strike will force commuters living on Long Island, a suburb of New York City, who normally take the approximately 250,000 daily trips, to find alternative routes into the city or choose to work from home. In other words, already congested highways will see even more vehicles, and commute times will lengthen.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has urged affected passengers to work from home during the strike. The MTA plans to offer a limited, free shuttle bus service for essential workers during peak weekday commuting hours.
The LIRR averted a strike last September when the Donald Trump administration agreed to help with negotiations, but those efforts ultimately failed to produce an agreement. The two sides then had a 60-day period to try again to resolve their differences, otherwise the unions could legally strike and the rail authority could legally lock out employees. That deadline expired at 12:01 a.m. today. (Compiled by: Chang Cheng-chien) 1150516