Union Coalition Wins Historic Strike at LIRR

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) union coalition reached a tentative agreement this week to end the carrier's first strike in over three decades. The agreement provides workers with raises that maintain their standard of living while strengthening work rules and improving benefits.

Thousands of workers from five unions were forced to strike by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) refusal to offer them a fair contract. BLET Teamsters and their coalition partners set up picket lines at major LIRR hubs immediately after midnight on Saturday, May 16.

"This victory was won by union members who stood their ground and refused to be pushed around," said Mark Wallace, President of the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference. "Our coalition showed the MTA that railroad workers will fight for the respect, pay, and protections we've earned. Their unity and determination forced this railroad to finally deliver a fair agreement."

The coalition spent years bargaining with the MTA for a new agreement. The process included two Presidential Emergency Boards that ruled in favor of the unions. In that time, workers went without raises as inflation ate away their standard of living. The five unions are now holding meetings with members and planning ratification votes which will be concluded by mid-June. Read more here.