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LIRR strike ends as MTA reaches deal with unions after chaotic commute
By
Stephen Nessen
,
Ramsey Khalifeh
,
Clayton Guse
and
Phil Corso
Published May 18, 2026
Modified May 18, 2026
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David Dee Delgado/Getty Images
By
Stephen Nessen
,
Ramsey Khalifeh
,
Clayton Guse
and
Phil Corso
Published May 18, 2026
Modified May 18, 2026
Share
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The Long Island Rail Road strike ended Monday night after the MTA reached a tentative deal with five labor unions following days of stalled negotiations and a chaotic first workday for commuters.
The unions represent more than half the LIRR workforce and had been working without a raise since 2023.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday night that phased LIRR service would resume beginning Tuesday at noon after the MTA reached what she called a “fair deal” with the striking unions. She also said the agreement would not require additional fare hikes or tax increases.
LIRR officials said regular service will remain suspended Tuesday morning because there is not enough time to get crews into position to run trains.
The MTA said limited shuttle bus service would continue through the Tuesday morning rush while crews work to restore train service. Officials said commuters should still work from home if possible.
Speaking to reporters on Monday night, Hochul said the agreement strikes a balance between fairly compensating workers and avoiding additional costs for riders.
“ Their work is critical for the entire region and they deserve a fair wage,” she said. “I also would not accept a deal that would compromise affordability for Long Islanders. At a time when everything is going up, we all know the story, I was not going to allow taxes or fares to go up.”
The agreement is expected to restore service on the nation’s busiest commuter railroad after the three-day strike disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of riders and forced many commuters to work from home, drive into the city or rely on limited shuttle bus service.
Details of the tentative agreement, which still must be ratified by union members and approved by the MTA board, were not immediately made public. But the MTA had pushed hard for several reforms to work rules, including nixing double pay for engineers who drive a diesel and electric locomotive during the same shift and restrictions that prevent ticket clerks from performing additional tasks, as most LIRR customers pay their fares digitally.
The union had demanded a 5% raise in the last year of the contract, while the MTA insisted anything more than 3% would set a bad precedent, as other unions may make the same demand and that could severely disrupt the MTA’s finances.
This contract was particularly contentious, with both sides seeking help from a Presidential Emergency Board twice. That board sided with the unions, and the MTA said the process was unfair because the members of the board were appointed by President Donald Trump. Trump has fought with the MTA and Hochul several times over the last year as his administration appointed members.
The four-year agreement includes retroactive pay, but expires in July 2027.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Tagged
LIRR strike
long island
new york city
transportation
Stephen Nessen
Stephen Nessen covers transportation. Since 2008 he has reported on everything from Occupy Wall Street, the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, Hurricane Sandy, to Trump’s campaign for president. His transportation reporting has taken him everywhere from the MTA’s secret Rail Control Center to the gleaming subways of Seoul. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Clayton Guse
Clayton is the editor of the Transit and Infrastructure desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Phil Corso
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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