Trump sets up emergency panel to resolve Long Island Rail Road labor union conflict
The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) unions, representing over 3,000 workers, are in a standoff with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) over wage increases, with President Donald Trump establishing an emergency board to review the dispute. LIRR unions, seeking news of fair wages for their members, are demanding a nypost increase beyond the already proposed 9.5%, seeking an additional 6.5% raise over the next four years. According to Gil Lang, the General Chairman for the BLET's LIRR engineers, the unions are trying to achieve fair wages for their members, who have been without a pay raise for over three years and run almost 1,000 daily trains. The unions claim they are not asking for more than other employees, wanting only 6.5% more than everyone else, without any concessions, including outdated work rules that significantly increase salaries. However, LIRR President Rob Free has criticized the unions' collective bargaining effort, calling it a 'cash grab' that would overpay employees. The MTA has offered a 9.5% wage increase over a three-year period, but the unions have rejected this deal. The coalition of unions, which includes the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, has demanded multiple days' pay for one day of work, according to LIRR President Free. The LIRR unions have a history of strikes, with the last walkout occurring in 1994, but the walkout only lasted for two days. If a new contract isn't agreed upon by May, it could be the first time LIRR employees strike in over 30 years. A strike could affect more than 270,000 daily commuters in New York. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has decried the idea of a strike, stating that it would hurt LIRR employees and passengers. President Trump's establishment of an emergency board is aimed at preventing a strike and finding a compromise between the parties involved. LIRR employees currently average $50 an hour, according to MTA figures, which is 7% higher than industry norms, as per LIRR President Rob Free. The unions are seeking wage increases to keep pace with the rising cost of living in New York. LIRR engineers currently make an average of $160,000 a year, with a top salary of $350,000, according to the MTA. The unions have emphasized that they are not asking for unreasonable wage gains, but rather wage increases that maintain real wages. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen announced that 99.9% of its active LIRR union members voted to authorize a strike, indicating a strong resolve among the unions. Service will continue on the Long Island Rail Road while the emergency board process is underway. The outcome of the negotiations could have significant implications for both LIRR employees and commuters in the New York area.
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