New York Gubernatorial Candidate Critiques Hochul on LIRR Strike
Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor in New York, has expressed sharp criticism of Governor Kathy Hochul regarding her management of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) strike. He labeled her leadership as lacking and pointed out the state’s financial difficulties, highlighting that the strike might cost the state around $60 million daily, disrupting the rides of countless commuters.
According to reports, five labor unions involved in the LIRR strike earlier this week disclosed expenditures exceeding $3.2 million on hotels, restaurants, and venues for events in 2025. This information, gathered from Department of Labor disclosures, was examined for accuracy.
The unions, namely the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Railroad Workers, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signals, the International Brotherhood of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Transportation and Communications Workers Union, allocated significant funds to upscale accommodations. These expenses typically cover costs for conferences and trainings, as well as lodging and work-related meals during trips for union business.
The financial disclosures shed light on union spending patterns during a year when workers reported feeling pressure from rising living costs. The strike, which affected hundreds of thousands of commuters, incurred an estimated cost of $61 million a day for the region.
As the strike continued, it created major commuting challenges for over 300,000 people in New York. In turn, Hochul attributed these disruptions to a “lack of leadership.”
The forms submitted by unions to the Department of Labor, called LM-2 forms, detail financial activities including income and expenditures. A review of the forms from 2025 showed payments to luxury hotels, high-end dining establishments, and resorts, which typically have higher prices than casual dining locations.
This included payments for casino resorts and pricey restaurants, notably those in tourist hotspots like Las Vegas. Workers went on strike on May 16, citing the disparity between wage growth and escalating living costs, effectively halting operations on the country’s largest commuter rail line. Subsequently, an agreement was reached with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), but the specifics remain undisclosed.
Talks between the union and the MTA were ongoing, with unions highlighting that they felt overcharged by hotels and venues while negotiating better pay for their members. For example, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Railroad Workers spent around $500,000 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2025, covering both lodging and event-related fees. Another union, TCU, reported spending over $800,000 at a hotel known for its gambling amenities.
During their stay in Las Vegas, union representatives reportedly dined at high-end restaurants, with one union detailing over $6,000 spent at a steakhouse where prices for steaks ranged dramatically. In contrast, another union spent significantly on a famous steakhouse known for its high-quality beef.
Additional hotel spending was noted with BLET paying over $100,000 for a resort in Daytona Beach and IBEW making similar expenditures for accommodations in Florida and Michigan. Other major labor organizations have similarly reported large amounts spent on luxury venues and dining experiences in their financial disclosures.
Gil Lang, the general chair of the BLET’s LIRR General Committee, addressed the disruptions caused by the strike, explaining that the situation left them with no choice but to take action after three years without raises. The LIRR strike, which commenced on May 16 and wrapped up at noon on Tuesday, is expected to result in significant economic losses for the New York area. Many commuters voiced their challenges, noting the added burden of waking up early and experiencing lengthy travel times just to reach their workplaces.
While an agreement to conclude the strike has been reached among the involved unions, the specifics still need formal approval. As of now, requests for comments from these unions remain unanswered.
