Long Island Rail Road strike ends with wage deal, full weekday service restored
A three‑day strike by five Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) unions halted the busiest U.S. commuter rail system, affecting roughly 300,000 daily riders and costing the region hundreds of millions of dollars. Governor Kathy Hochul announced a tentative agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) that provides salary increases for workers while protecting riders and taxpayers. The deal was brokered after intensive negotiations and a federal mediation effort.
Service began resuming at noon on Tuesday, with full weekday operations expected by the evening peak. The MTA will issue prorated refunds to monthly‑pass holders for the days service was suspended. The agreement still requires ratification by the union memberships, but officials said it ends the immediate disruption and restores normal commuting for Long Island residents and New York City workers.