The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), the busiest commuter railroad in North America, is moving closer to a possible strike as labor unions and New York state officials remain deadlocked over wage increases.
The possibility of a walkout grew more serious after a 12-hour negotiating session on Thursday ended without a deal. Talks resumed on Friday morning.
The dispute involves a five-union bargaining coalition representing more than 3,500 LIRR employees—including engineers, signal workers, machinists, electricians, and communications workers—and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the state agency that runs the railroad.
The two sides have reached an agreement on the first three years of a contract that would be retroactive to 2023, but they remain divided over terms for a fourth year….