LIRR strike halted

Sept. 29, 2025

By Kevin McGeachy

New York - President Donald Trump on Sept. 16 established a Presidential Emergency Board to review a contract dispute between the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and five unions that represent a large portion of its workforce, temporarily barring strike action and sending the parties back to bargaining.

The board exists because union leaders asked for federal help after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) failed to reach agreements with them. The board will examine the disputed matters and present its findings to the White House. Its formation begins a 120-day cooling-off period during which a work stoppage is prohibited under federal law.

 The union representatives supported the board request because they believed it would extend the negotiation process and strengthen their position at the bargaining table. The MTA officials supported the pause because they believed it would create opportunities for both parties to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

The Transportation Communications Union and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers represent the labor groups involved in this matter based on public records and organizational statements.

The board needs to submit its report according to the established time limits although its suggestions hold strong influence but lack legal enforcement.

The union leaders based their decision to authorize strike votes and seek federal review on the fact that employees received no pay increases during three years of rising inflation. The unions stated that their members want both wage growth and new contract terms that address staffing numbers and work hours and workplace conditions. The MTA presents their current proposal as a fair compromise which they want the unions to accept through arbitration or direct negotiations without federal intervention.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul called on both parties to use the cooling-off period to reach a deal, stressing that a strike would disrupt commutes, school routines, and economic activity across Long Island and New York City. State and local authorities predict that brief LIRR service interruptions will trigger major delays in other transit systems while disrupting supply chain operations throughout the region.

The LIRR serves 250,000 passengers daily during weekdays, major service disruptions would make employers change work times and schools start late while causing more traffic in already busy streets. The emergency board system functions to decrease short-term risks of such outcomes through a defined process which enables federal review and recommendation development.

The emergency board established a schedule which will determine the upcoming actions for negotiators before their new round of mediated discussions. The parties will either resume negotiations, opt for binding arbitration through mutual agreement, or they will encounter more political and legal obstacles to resolve the dispute after the board issues its decision.

People who commute to work showed mixed feelings about the short-term stop of the strike plans but advocacy groups for public transit pushed for fast negotiations to prevent extended service disruptions. The following weeks will determine whether the cooling-off period leads to a settlement or postpones future intense diplomatic talks.