Long Island Rail Road Workers Strike, Shutting Down North America's Largest Commuter Rail System

May 18, 2026

The Long Island Rail Road, North America's busiest commuter railroad carrying 250,000 passengers daily, shut down after midnight on May 16, 2026, when five unions representing 3,500 workers went on strike for the first time since 1994. The strike centers on a dispute over the fourth year of a contract, with unions seeking a 5% raise while the MTA offers 3-4.5% with work rule concessions and new healthcare contributions. Governor Kathy Hochul blames both the Trump administration for cutting mediation short and union leadership for the stoppage, while the MTA and unions accuse each other of bargaining in bad faith. Tens of thousands of commuters face disruptions as the MTA runs limited shuttle buses to subway stations and encourages remote work.

LIRR strike details

▪Five unions representing 3,500 Long Island Rail Road workers are participating in the strike.
▪The Long Island Rail Road is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, carrying about 250,000 passengers each weekday.
▪Kevin Sexton is the national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
▪The Long Island Rail Road strike is the railroad's first work stoppage since a two-day walkout in 1994.
▪The Long Island Rail Road strike officially shut down the railroad just after midnight on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Contract negotiation breakdown

▪The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Long Island Rail Road unions agreed to the terms of the first three years of the contract, but disputes arose over the final year.
▪The Long Island Rail Road unions are seeking a 5% pay increase in the fourth year of the contract.
▪Kevin Sexton said no new negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Long Island Rail Road unions have been scheduled as of May 16, 2026.
▪The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and five Long Island Rail Road unions failed to reach a deal on a new four-year contract.
▪Kevin Sexton said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority introduced health care contributions that were never discussed in bargaining.
▪The Metropolitan Transportation Authority offered a 3% raise with options that could bring it up to 4.5%, provided some work rules concessions are made.

Political blame assignment

▪Donald Trump responded on Truth Social on May 16, 2026, saying he had nothing to do with the Long Island Rail Road strike and never even heard about it until that morning.
▪Governor Kathy Hochul stated the Long Island Rail Road walkout is the direct result of reckless actions by the Trump administration to cut mediation short and push negotiations toward a strike.
▪Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman blamed Governor Kathy Hochul for the Long Island Rail Road work stoppage.
▪Governor Kathy Hochul stated the Long Island Rail Road unions' leadership is responsible for the work stoppage.

Commuter impact disruption

▪The Long Island Rail Road strike is impacting the Subway Series between the Yankees and Mets at Citi Field during the weekend of May 16, 2026.
▪Tens of thousands of commuters in southeastern New York are impacted by the Long Island Rail Road strike.

Alternative transportation options

▪Buses will run from Bay Shore, Hempstead Lake State Park near Lakeview, Hicksville, and Mineola Long Island Rail Road stations to the Howard Beach-JFK Airport A train station during the strike.
▪Buses will run from Huntington and Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road stations to the Jamaica-179th Street F train stop during the strike.
▪The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is running shuttle bus service from five Long Island Rail Road stations to subway stations in Queens during the strike.