Governor Kathy Hochul said on May 16 that the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is vital to daily life, carrying nearly 300,000 commuters each day. She commented on ongoing labor disputes and a strike affecting LIRR service, urging both sides to return to negotiations.
The LIRR plays a central role in transportation for many residents. Disruptions to its service have significant effects on commuters and the broader community.
Hochul said, “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.” She added that her administration has made “historic investments in the LIRR,” including increasing service by 40%, improving safety measures, securing fiscal stability after the pandemic, and completing major projects such as the Main Line Third Track and Grand Central Madison.
According to Hochul, “The LIRR is more stable now than it has been for generations.” She criticized union leaders’ decision to strike over contract demands she described as potentially raising fares by up to eight percent and risking tax increases. “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%, 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.”
Hochul also attributed some of the current disruption to actions taken by federal officials: “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.” She noted efforts by Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) negotiators: “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.”
Concluding her statement with an appeal for resolution, Hochul said: “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.”
