Nearly half of the road workers on the Long Island Railroad are considering quitting as early as next week. In response to what they’re calling an “immediate strike,” the MTA plans to advise commuters to work from home.
The union, which comprises about 3,400 members, or 49% of the workforce, is pushing for a retroactive pay hike of 16% from three years ago.
According to LIRR president Rob Free, MTA officials would prefer a wage increase of 9.5% or adjustments to work rules that they argue excessively inflate pay.
“A fair offer has been made,” Free stated during a press conference at Penn Station on Thursday. “They need to understand that coming to the table means making some concessions.”
Commuters relying on LIRR services have been advised to prepare for a potential work stoppage.
“If a strike happens, we recommend that everyone who can work from home should do so,” Free said.
Transportation options include shuttle buses running every 10 minutes for “essential workers,” but MTA’s chief customer officer, Shanifah Rieara, mentioned that this service would be “limited.”
“We’ve had restricted bus service,” Rieara added. “We can’t fully replace the daily LIRR operation.”
Details about the shuttle services will be made available on the MTA’s website, according to Rieara.
However, a Long Island resident working in guest services at a Manhattan hotel expressed skepticism about the MTA’s advice for riders to work from home. “That’s not ideal,” the 65-year-old told a reporter, suggesting people should stick to their original travel plans after hearing the news at Penn Station.
“They really need to reach an agreement,” the worker emphasized.
“The MTA rakes in a lot of money. I pay nearly $400 a month. They should be capable of offering fair wages. It’s a costly world out there,” she remarked.
