A planned strike on the Long Island Rail Road was averted Thursday, July 17, according to state officials and union leaders. Workers previously planned to walk off their jobs on July 20.
In light of request by union employees, the new contract includes 17 percent raises across the next six and a half years. In a press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, “It is my pleasure to announce today that we have settled a four-year dispute dealing with the Long Island Rail Road labor unions.”
The LIRR unions threatened to strike on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. if a deal wasn’t reached. The unions have been working without a contract since 2010. A major hang-up for negotiations was whether LIRR workers would have to contribute to pensions and health coverage. Under the new contract, new employees will have wage progressions and pension plan contributions that are different from existing employees.
If an agreement wasn’t reached in time to avert the strike, options for commuters included shuttle buses, car pools and ferries. President Obama appointed two emergency boards to help end the dispute, but the MTA rejected both boards and the unions voted to authorize a strike set for July 20.
The MTA’s East Side Access Project, slated for completion in 2018, will bring LIRR electric trains to a new level beneath Grand Central Terminal. This move is intended to relieve passenger congestion in Penn Station and offer a better capacity for Amtrak and NJ Transit trains.
