LIRR Strike: What You Need To Know For Monday Morning Commute

LONG ISLAND, NY — With Long Island Rail Road service suspended due to a strike that has impacted thousands, commuters are scrambling to get to work Monday morning.

On Sunday night, the National Mediation Board attempted to facilitate the resumption of bargaining between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the striking unions, ABC News reported, calling all parties to a meeting in Manhattan.

Earlier on Sunday, Gov. Kathy Hochul called for talks to resume.

But in the event that the strike is still ongoing Monday morning, the MTA LIRR has presented options for commuters.

"LIRR service is suspended until further notice because of a strike," MTA LIRR wrote on X Saturday.

"Avoid nonessential travel and work from home if possible. We will have limited shuttle bus service on weekdays for essential workers and those who cannot telecommute."

The MTA also offered travel alternatives:

Shuttle buses

The MTA said it will provide limited shuttle bus service on weekdays for essential workers and those who cannot telecommute. Buses will run during peak hours (toward Manhattan from 4:30 to 9 a.m. and to Long Island from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) to/from six locations on Long Island to subway transfer points in Queens. There will also be limited reverse peak service available on some routes.

Peak and reverse peak direction service

• Bay Shore (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport A​
• Huntington (LIRR) to Jamaica-179 St F at Hillside Av and 179 St
• Ronkonkoma (LIRR) to Jamaica-179 St F at Hillside Av and 179 St

Peak direction service only

• Hempstead Lake State Park, near Lakeview (LIRR), to Howard Beach-JFK Airport
• Hicksville (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport
• Mineola (LIRR) to Howard Beach-JFK Airport ​

There is no charge for shuttle bus service. Tap and ride using your phone, credit or debit card, or OMNY Card for transfers to the subway and MTA buses, MTA officials said.

NICE Bus

Nassau County customers should also consider using NICE Bus to connect to/from points in Queens, both at peak and reverse peak times, officials said. NICE will provide additional service starting Monday, May 18 to/from key transit hubs in Hicksville, Mineola, Great Neck, and Freeport. Learn more about this additional service.

See below for MTA locations with NICE Bus connections.

• 179 St EF
  • n1, n6, n6x, n22, n22x, n24, n26
  • Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue
• • n31, n31x/m, n32, n33
• Flushing-Main St 7
  • n20g, n20x
• Jamaica Bus Terminal, a short walk from the 169 St F
  • n1, n6, n6x, n22, n22x, n24, n26
• Jamaica Ctr-Parsons/Archer EJZ
  • n4, n4x

Visit the NICE Bus website for more information and service changes, or use the NICE GoMobile app to plan your trip. Use your phone, credit or debit card, or OMNY Card to tap and ride on NICE Bus.

Passenger drop-off locations

The MTA said it recommends using the following subway stations as passenger drop-off points.

"These stations are close to major roadways that lead to and from Long Island. These stations do not have parking lots, so please do not plan to park there," officials said.

• Far Rockaway-Mott Av
• Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike​
• Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd.
• Sheepshead Bay
• Woodhaven Blvd

Accessible travel alternatives

Accessible travel options will be available on Long Island and in Queens.

• Shuttle buses will transport customers from Bay Shore, Hempstead Lake State Park, Hicksville, and Mineola to Howard Beach-JFK Airport station.
• Shuttle buses will transport customers from Huntington and Ronkonkoma to Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer EJZ​ station.

All trains were halted as the Long Island Rail Road union workers went on strike as of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, officials said.

Union representatives said after three years of contract discussions, the MTA and the coalition of five LIRR unions could not reach an agreement. The unions said no further contract talks are in the works at the moment.

These negotiations ended without a deal, leaving about 3,500 union employees, including signalmen, electricians, clerks, machinists, and locomotive engineers from the five LIRR unions on strike — and more than 300,000 commuters without transportation.

"Obviously, this is not the result we were looking for. Like Governor Hochul said, everybody loses in a strike — the MTA, the thousands of workers who are going to lose wages, and most of all, the riders who rely on the railroad every day," said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber in a statement following the strike.

“But I — and this MTA board — have been clear that we cannot responsibly make a deal that implodes MTA’s budget. Under the governor’s leadership, we’ve fought too hard to get back on stable footing coming out of COVID.

"And we refuse to make a deal that puts it on riders and taxpayers to fund outsized wage increases — far beyond what anyone else at the MTA is getting — and for folks who are already the highest-paid railroad workers in the country."

He added: "We cannot and will not do a deal that shifts huge costs to our riders by forcing fare hikes. And we can’t expect taxpayers to foot a big new bill. They’re already doing enough. It’s no secret that the Long Island Rail Road is the most highly subsidized operation at the MTA.

“And I strongly believe that the LIRR is a great place to have a job. We have great health benefits, great retirement benefits, and pensions.

“And on top of all that, the unions have those outrageous work rules that allow these workers to pile up overtime, rules which they have refused to even discuss at the bargaining table.

“At the table this week — and especially today — we upped our proposals again and again, even as the other side reciprocated little or nothing.

“Our last offer literally gave them everything they said they wanted in terms of pay but they rejected even that.

“Then we offered to conclude a contract just on the three years where we agreed and to go into binding arbitration on the fourth. Still, it was rejected.

“For me, it’s become apparent that these unions always intended to strike. Their strategy is to inconvenience Long Islanders and try to force the MTA and the State to do a bad deal.

“That is unacceptable to Governor Hochul, to the MTA Board, and to me, so here we are."

At Wednesday's press conference, MTA Counsel Gary Dellaverson said the main divide is over 2026 pay, and that unions were pushing for a 5 percent raise while the MTA has pushed for 3 percent. In October, a Presidential Emergency Board recommended a 4.5 percent increase, but Dellaverson said on Wednesday that sides were still apart on the wage question.

The LIRR unions said their members need a contract that addresses rising inflation.

Union representatives said in a release on Friday that some progress was made, but it was unsuccessful as the pay gap could not be closed.

"MTA and Gov. Hochul determined that they would rather create frustration and gridlock for thousands of commuters, spend millions on buses during a strike, and lose millions in lost revenue rather than settle a contract meant to keep pace with the rising cost of living," said Nick Peluso, national vice president of the Transportation Communications Union, said in a release.

Governor Kathy Hochul shared on X that she will "fight to preserve the long-term stability of the MTA."

Hochul released a statement after the strike commenced: "The Long Island Rail Road is essential. Every day, it carries nearly 300,000 commuters and without this service, life on Long Island as we know it is not possible.

"As governor, I have been proud to make historic investments in the LIRR. Working with the MTA, we increased service by 40 percent, improved safety for riders and workers, secured the railroad’s fiscal future after the pandemic, and delivered transformative projects like the Main Line Third Track and Grand Central Madison.

"The LIRR is more stable now than it has been for generations. The decision by some unions to strike over demands that would threaten that progress is reckless. These unions represent the highest paid workers of any railroad in the nation, yet they are demanding contracts that could raise fares as much as 8 percent, pit workers against one another, and risk tax hikes for Long Islanders. This is unacceptable. My priority is protecting affordability for riders and ensuring fairness across the workforce.

"The disruption that Long Islanders face starting tonight is the direct result of reckless actions by the Trump Administration to cut mediation short and push these negotiations toward a strike. For weeks, the MTA has attempted to negotiate in good faith and put multiple fair offers on the table that included meaningful wage increases, but you cannot make a deal if one side refuses to engage in good faith," Hochul said.

President Donald Trump fired back on Truth Social: "Failed New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, a Dumacrat, just blamed ME for her Long Island Railroad STRIKE, when she knows, full well, that I have NOTHING TO DO WITH IT — never even heard about it until this morning. She just blurted out, 'it’s President Trump’s fault.' No, Kathy, it’s your fault, and now looking over the facts, you should not have allowed this to happen. If you can’t solve it, let me know, and I’ll show you how to properly get things done. This would be an easy one for BRUCE BLAKEMAN. He should be your next Governor and New York State would turn around fast, including far less Crime, and much lower taxes!!! Kathy, call me if you can’t do it, I will get it done - I know all the players, great people!!!"

Hochul added: "Commuters are dealing with unnecessary dysfunction and thousands of union LIRR workers are being forced to go without a paycheck because of decisions made by a small group of union leaders. I stand with LIRR riders and will fight to preserve the long term stability of the MTA. I believe a deal can be done and I urge both the MTA and these unions to return to the table and bargain non-stop until a deal is reached.

The MTA has released a contingency plan, stating that workers should work from home if possible.

During the New York Mets versus New York Yankees Subway Series dates, the Mets have agreed to make their park and ride lot available at Citi Field at a daily nominal cost of $6 during weekdays. This will connect customers to the 7 subway line at Mets-Willets Station.

Union members began picketing on Saturday at 7 a.m. at the following locations:

Manhattan: East End Gateway entrance to Penn Station, 33rd and 7th Avenue.

Ronkonkoma: LIRR Station, Hawkins Avenue.