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NY’s transit unions are at war with Gov. Kathy Hochul
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Mar 20, 2026
Modified Mar 20, 2026
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NDZ/Star Max/GC Images
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Mar 20, 2026
Modified Mar 20, 2026
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This column originally appeared in On The Way, a weekly newsletter covering everything you need to know about NYC-area transportation.
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Contract negotiations with a pair of New York’s most powerful transit unions are looming over Gov. Kathy Hochul’s re-election bid.
Transport Workers Union, whose Local 100 represents some 40,000 subway and bus workers, tried to dump cold water on the governor’s campaign in a scathing TV ad that ran on St. Patrick’s Day.
Hochul is responsible for the MTA, and Local 100’s contract with the transit agency expires in May. The union is pushing to preserve two-person subway crews and token booth agent jobs, which the transit agency has tried to make obsolete.
“Centuries ago, St. Patrick drove Ireland’s snakes into the sea,” the ad says. “Now, St. Patrick is needed to help rid New York of our snake of a governor, Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who pretends to support workers and working families, but is venomously anti-trade union.”
The jab comes as the MTA and Long Island Rail Road workers represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen are embroiled in a bitter yearslong contract dispute. A Presidential Emergency Board brought in to mediate negotiations sided with the union this week, which clears the way for a potential LIRR strike if there isn’t an agreement in 60 days.
Unlike subway and bus workers, the LIRR crews are not bound by New York state’s Taylor Law, which prohibits most public-sector workers from striking.
Hochul doesn’t have a major primary challenger, and her Republican opponent Bruce Blakeman faces slim chances to win in deep blue New York. But the disputes mean the governor will enter her re-election campaign without the backing of two major labor unions, which could imperil her ability to win by a wide margin.
Four years ago, when she was first elected to a full term, Hochul narrowly beat Republican Lee Zeldin with just 53% of the vote.
“Right now it would just further demonstrate that Kathy Hochul is anti-trade union, anti-worker, if she doesn't instruct [MTA Chair] Janno Lieber to come to a settlement quickly,” said Transport Workers International President John Samuelsen. “The money is there.”
MTA spokesperson Mitch Schwartz wrote in a statement the MTA is working with 80 labor unions on contracts “to make sure workers get fair pay, while riders get good value and great service.”
“John Samuelsen making personal attacks and blowing member dollars on dumb newspaper ads and attack videos is also something that happens every year,” Schwartz added.
Retired labor leader and former MTA board member Norman Brown wasn’t so sure about TWU’s political gambit.
“ It's a game of chicken,” said Brown. “ What if she doesn't cave? What are you gonna do then? Are you gonna put Bruce Blakeman in there? And really what if she wins, anyway?”
“I don't look at it as such a winning strategy by Local 100,” he added.
An LIRR strike could pose an even greater political threat to Hochul than the pressure from Local 100. The union and the MTA are slated to return to the negotiating table on Friday.
“We're committed to reaching a deal. It's time to get it done…hopefully the MTA comes to the table in good faith and, and offers us a reasonable deal,” said Kevin J. Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. “ A strike is on the table if we are unable to reach a voluntary settlement on May 16 to 12:01 a.m.”
MTA Chief Labor and Employee Relations Officer Anita Miller is also warning there could be a work stoppage on the railroad, saying the union members “are the highest-paid railroad workers in the nation.”
“If these unions decline to begin good-faith negotiations, the LIRR will have no choice but to prepare for a needless work stoppage that would only hurt both riders and workers,” Miller wrote in a statement. “In the meantime, we will take every available step to mitigate the impact of a potential strike on LIRR customers. And should these unions decide to come to the table in good faith, we have been, and are, ready to go.”
NYC transportation news this week
New Jersey’s new bridge. NJ Transit commuter trains are back on their regular weekday schedules after a month of disruptions tied to the opening of the new Portal North Bridge, a critical piece of infrastructure for trains crossing the Hackensack River.
Decriminalized e-bikes. Cyclists and e-bike riders in New York City will no longer face criminal charges — or have to appear in criminal court — for minor traffic violations under a policy change announced by the Mamdani administration.
Second Ave. subway brawl. The MTA this week sued the Trump administration for withholding federal funding for the Second Avenue subway’s expansion into East Harlem.
Green light to slow down drivers. The Mamdani administration said it will reduce speed limits to 15 mph in 800 more school zones this year under a state law giving it the power to do so.
Curious Commuter
Question from William in Brooklyn
Why isn’t there a real discount on a monthly pass like so many other transit systems all over the world?
Answer
The MTA got rid of its 30-day unlimited ticket for the subways and buses as part of this year’s fare hike, which brought the cost of a single ride up to $3. The 30-day option had only been available on the MetroCard, which was retired at the start of the year. Riders who use OMNY can have their fares “capped” at $35 every seven days, so long as they use the same credit card, OMNY card or smartphone over that period. The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North continue to offer discounted monthly passes for riders.
This story has been updated to clarify the origin of the ad campaign.
Tagged
Kathy Hochul
On The Way
Politics
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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