Hochul’s Motives Behind the LIRR Strike
According to John Samuelsen, the president of the Transport Workers’ Union International, Governor Kathy Hochul’s push for the Long Island Railroad strike seems aimed at overshadowing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. He suggests that this might be a strategic move to capture votes from leading Republican gubernatorial candidates in the state.
“I think it’s no coincidence that she’s taking action in her own backyard,” Samuelsen remarked. “By instigating a strike, she might be looking to place the blame on Blakeman and the Republicans.”
Samuelsen, who also represents subway and bus workers through Local 100, attributes the strike—initiated by the five unions representing LIRR workers—to Hochul and her associates at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
He also expressed concern that if Hochul cannot resolve the strike, it might have implications not just for her re-election campaign but for other Democratic contenders in the upcoming November elections. “If Democrats don’t start criticizing Kathy Hochul’s behavior and her stance against unions, they could face significant consequences,” he said.
Labor leaders disapproved of the Hochul-controlled MTA for ignoring two federal committees’ recommendations that could have prevented the strike. They also criticized the use of Gary Delaverson as the MTA’s chief negotiator, recalling a difficult contract dispute in 2005 that led to a major strike affecting New York City’s subway and bus services for three days during the holidays.
“Mr. Delaverson’s hiring was hardly mentioned in discussions, but it was a foreshadowing of things to come,” Samuelsen noted, pointing out the parallels to the events of 2005.
In response, Hochul’s spokesman, Gordon Tepper, remarked that Samuelsen “was not part of the negotiations and his comments should be seen through that lens.” He emphasized the focus should be on ensuring fair treatment for LIRR workers without increasing costs for Long Island residents, stating that Governor Hochul had directed the MTA to pursue just that.
