New York gubernatorial candidate criticizes Hochul over LIRR strike

Nassau County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has taken aim at Governor Kathy Hochul, blaming her for the handling of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) strike. Calling it a failure of leadership, he pointed out that the ongoing strike could lead to costs of $60 million daily and significantly disrupt travel for hundreds of thousands of commuters.

During an appearance on “Fox & Friends Weekend,” Blakeman stated, “The blame lies with Kathy Hochul and her lack of leadership. This strike didn’t need to happen.” He emphasized a perceived lack of respect toward workers and mentioned that Hochul’s poor relationship with union leadership was a contributing factor.

Blakeman contrasted his approach to labor issues with that of Hochul. He stated, “I will negotiate hard with the workers, but we will always come to a mutual agreement because we care about the families of our workers here in New York state.” His comments followed a significant strike involving five unions representing around 3,700 workers, marking a significant moment in the railroad’s history.

In a related note, the LIRR has confirmed that service is suspended until further notice and has suggested that commuters avoid non-essential travel and consider working from home. Limited shuttle bus services will be available for essential employees.

Kevin Sexton, vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Railroad Workers, expressed regret about the strike, indicating that negotiations seemed unlikely to resume anytime soon. The main sticking point appears to be a proposed pay increase for the final year of the contract, which the union wants set at 5%, a demand the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) claims it cannot fulfill.

Blakeman claimed that Hochul’s management of labor relations has consistently been poor, citing examples like a nurses’ strike where she allegedly brought in out-of-state workers to replace those on strike, and a prison officer strike where she invoked the National Guard to intervene. He noted that now, with the first major railway strike in three decades, the situation has escalated again.

Attempts to obtain comments from Hochul’s press office and campaign were not successful.