The strike that shut down the Long Island Rail Road for the first time in 32 years is set to end after transit officials and union leaders reached a tentative agreement Monday night, according to Kathy Hochul.
“Tonight, the MTA reached a fair deal with the five LIRR unions that delivers raises for workers while protecting riders and taxpayers,” Hochul said in a statement posted on X. “I’m pleased to announce that phased LIRR service will resume beginning tomorrow at noon.”
The LIRR serves more than 300,000 commuters daily between Long Island and New York City.
Janno Lieber confirmed during a Monday night news conference that the strike would officially end at midnight. He appeared alongside Hochul and Rob Free.
Officials said train service would begin resuming Tuesday at noon, with full operations expected by the afternoon rush hour and ahead of Tuesday night’s New York Knicks game.
Hochul said details of the agreement could not yet be disclosed because the deal still requires union ratification. However, she emphasized that commuters would not face fare increases to fund the contract.
Free advised riders to monitor the LIRR website and mobile app for updated schedules as operations gradually return to normal. He added that the Tuesday morning commute would still depend heavily on buses and shuttle services.
Zohran Mamdani praised the agreement in a statement Monday night, saying the deal recognizes “the critical importance of the LIRR and the workers who keep it running.”
He added that city agencies would continue coordinating efforts to manage traffic and assist commuters during the transition back to full rail service.
The strike began Saturday after negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and unions representing thousands of rail workers failed to produce a new labor agreement before the contract deadline expired.
Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said earlier that disputes over wage increases and health care costs prevented negotiators from reaching a deal before the strike began.
