LIRR Workers Warn of Potential 'Disaster for Long Island' as Strike Looms

Union leaders say they are prepared to walk off the job on May 16 if a new contract agreement is not reached with the MTA.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A minimalist studio still life photograph featuring a stack of train tickets, a conductor's hat, and a brass train whistle arranged on a clean, monochromatic background, symbolizing the high-stakes labor negotiations and potential commuter disruption surrounding the LIRR strike.As LIRR workers prepare to strike, the delicate balance between transit labor and management hangs in the balance.NYC Today

Leaders of five unions representing over half of the Long Island Rail Road workforce have warned they are prepared to go on strike next month if they don't reach a new collective bargaining agreement with the MTA. The workers have been without a new contract or raise for more than three years, and union officials say a strike would bring service to a halt on the country's busiest commuter railroad, which they claim 'would be a disaster for Long Island'.

Why it matters

A potential LIRR strike would have major impacts on Long Island residents who rely on the rail system for their daily commutes. The last major LIRR strike was in 1987 and lasted 11 days until President Reagan intervened. This labor dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between transit workers and management over issues like pay, work rules, and overtime policies.

The details

The union leaders say the MTA has stonewalled contract negotiations, while the MTA claims the two sides only disagree on a 5% pay increase in the fourth year of the proposed contract. A Presidential Emergency Board sided with the unions, recommending a 14.5% pay increase over four years plus a $3,000 lump sum. However, the MTA has only agreed to the pay raises for the first three years, disputing the 5% hike in the final year.

  • The LIRR union members' last contract expired nearly four years ago.
  • The workers plan to strike on May 16 if a new agreement is not reached.

The players

Kevin Sexton

National vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

Michael Sullivan

General chairman of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalman.

John McCarthy

The MTA's chief of policy and external relations.

Ronald Reagan

Former U.S. President who intervened to end the last major LIRR strike in 1987.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“No one wants a strike. Our friends, our families, our neighbors, our communities rely on this system.”

— Kevin Sexton, National vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

“We are all in agreement about pay increases for the current contract period. The dispute pertains only to one future year, and there's no good reason why it can't be resolved at the bargaining table.”

— John McCarthy, The MTA's chief of policy and external relations

What’s next

The two sides have agreed to return to the negotiating table, with the clock ticking towards the May 16 strike deadline. If an agreement is not reached, the LIRR workers are prepared for a potentially lengthy labor action that could significantly disrupt commutes across Long Island.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between transit workers and management over issues like pay, work rules, and overtime policies. A potential LIRR strike would have major impacts on Long Island residents who rely on the rail system, underscoring the need for both sides to find a compromise and avoid a 'disaster for Long Island'.