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MTA Ignored Two Presidential Emergency Boards and Refused to Budge Less Than a Percentage Point in Wages; Union Coalition Ready to Return to Bargaining Table at Any Time to Reach Fair Agreement for Workers Who Haven’t Gotten Raise in Four Years
NEW YORK, May 17, 2026 — The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) and the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) are placing blame squarely on MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber for creating an impending commuting nightmare on Monday for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers after refusing to reach a fair agreement with 3,500 Long Island Rail Road workers, many of whom haven’t had a raise in four years amidst skyrocketing cost of living.
More than 300,000 passengers rely on the LIRR every weekday. The strike began after years of negotiations and repeated refusals by MTA leadership to follow the recommendations of two Presidential Emergency Boards that supported adequate wage increases for workers.
According to the coalition of unions, the gap between the parties was less than one percent before talks collapsed Friday night.
“I love my job and I’m proud of the work we do every day to keep Long Island moving safely,” said Mike Frank, an IAM Union member and Backshop Machinist at Long Island Rail Road. “But the cost of living in the New York area keeps going up while many of us have gone years without a raise. We want to be back on the job serving the public with a fair contract that respects the work we do.”
“We care deeply about the riding public and the people who depend on Long Island Rail Road every single day,” said Christian Jahkhah, a TCU/IAM member and Stockman at Long Island Rail Road. “Nobody wanted this strike, but we can’t keep falling further behind while housing, groceries and everyday expenses continue to rise across Long Island and New York City. We’re effectively fighting for retroactive pay after four years of stagnant wages while paying more for everything.”
“Long Island Rail Road workers want to be doing what they’ve always done — serving the riding public and keeping LIRR moving safely and efficiently,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “But after years without raises and with the cost of living continuing to climb across Long Island and the New York City area, workers deserve a fair contract that recognizes their contributions and sacrifices. This strike was completely avoidable, and the coalition remains ready to negotiate at any time if MTA leadership is finally prepared to bargain seriously.”
The Long Island Rail Road is the busiest commuter railroad in the United States and has now been shut down for the first time in more than three decades. The IAM Union said responsibility for the disruption rests squarely with MTA leadership and emphasized that the coalition of unions remains ready to return to negotiations at any time to reach a fair agreement and restore service for the riding public.
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
