Service resumed on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) on Tuesday after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and five rail unions reached a tentative labor agreement ending a three-day strike that disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of commuters across New York.
Limited train operations restarted around noon, with full service expected in time for the evening rush, according to MTA officials. Shuttle buses remained in operation earlier in the day as commuters gradually returned to regular travel routines following the system’s first strike since 1994.
The work stoppage affected roughly 250,000 to 300,000 daily riders who rely on the commuter railroad connecting Long Island with Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. During the shutdown, many passengers turned to buses, subways, and remote work arrangements as emergency transportation plans were activated across the region.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the tentative agreement Monday evening, emphasizing that the settlement would provide wage increases without triggering additional fare hikes or tax increases. “At a time where everything is going up, I was not going to allow taxes or fares to go up,” Hochul stated, adding that officials “stood firm for a deal that would not require any additional fare increases or tax increases.”
While the full contract details have not been publicly released pending ratification by union members, reports indicated workers secured a 4.5% raise for 2026 along with a $3,000 lump-sum payment. Previous terms reportedly included retroactive raises of 3% in 2023, 3% in 2024, and 3.5% in 2025. The proposed agreement would remain in effect through August 2027.
LIRR President Rob Free described the settlement as a balanced outcome for both workers and commuters. “Through negotiations we were able to find a common ground to come to an agreement,” Free remarked. He added that the deal was structured to avoid creating “a financial burden to the taxpayers and the riders.”
The dispute centered on wages, healthcare costs, and workplace rules after negotiations stretched on for several years.
