Overview

• Three of five LIRR unions have now voted to authorize a walkout that could begin Sept. 18, a move that would shut down service relied on roughly 300,000 daily riders because engineers and signal workers are among those poised to strike.
• Holdout unions are seeking about 15% to 16% in raises over three years, while the MTA’s pattern deal offers roughly 9.5% to 9.8% and has already been accepted by about half the workforce.
• Federal mediation ended last month, triggering the 30-day cooling-off period; Gov. Kathy Hochul has criticized the Trump administration’s National Mediation Board for ending talks and has not requested a Presidential Emergency Board.
• An opinion essay argues New York could try to block a strike under the Taylor Law, while a Newsday guest column urges using state arbitrators to resolve the dispute to avoid larger fare hikes.
• The MTA is preparing limited peak-hour shuttle buses linking select LIRR stations to Queens subways and proposes prorated refunds for monthly tickets, as CBS reporting notes separate concerns over possible disruptions to Ryder Cup travel even as the railroad vows to run event service.