LIRR and unions resolve 3-day strike

A coalition of five labor unions have ended a three-day strike at the MTA Long Island Rail Road after reaching a tentative contract agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on general wage increases.

Passenger-rail service on the commuter railroad will resume this afternoon. Contract language will be released once union members have the chance to review and vote on ratification of the proposed agreement, officials from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), one of the striking unions, said in a press release.

"This contract will ensure that 3,500 Long Island Rail Road employees will be paid fairly for their labor," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a press conference. "I also would not accept a deal that would compromise affordability for Long Islanders. ... I was not going to allow taxes or fares to go up. And that's why we stood firm for a deal that would not require any additional fare increases or tax increases." 

Workers went on strike shortly after midnight on May 16 after union leaders and the MTA were unable to come to an agreement about general wage increases, BLET officials said.

In addition to BLET, the coalition of rail unions included the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Transportation Communications Union.