Catherwood LibraryILR School

Unions representing more than half of Long Island Rail Road workers have averted an immediate strike by asking President Donald Trump to establish a presidential emergency board to mediate their stalled contract talks with the MTA. While service will continue for now, a strike could still occur in May 2026 if no deal is reached. The unions are seeking a 16% raise over four years, rejecting the MTA’s offer of a 9.5% increase over three years. LIRR officials argue employees are already among the highest-paid in the industry, while union leaders say members have gone over three years without raises and need wages that keep pace with New York’s cost of living. The last LIRR strike was in 1994 and lasted just two days.