September 12, 2025 – In recent weeks, Governor Hochul and MTA officials have attempted to shift blame and mislead the public about the ongoing labor dispute at the Long Island Rail Road. Instead of working toward a fair contract, they have chosen to distort the facts, painting LIRR workers as greedy and outdated, while downplaying their own responsibility in these negotiations.
The truth is simple: our unions have bargained in good faith for more than a year, only to be met with delays, political spin, and refusal to address the real issues. The National Mediation Board released the parties from mediation because progress was impossible under the current approach. That decision followed the law and reflected the reality: management has not come to the table seriously.
Governor Hochul has claimed her “hands are tied.” That is false. She has the authority to request a Presidential Emergency Board from the White House to help avoid disruption, but instead, she is choosing to push this crisis closer to New Yorkers, prioritizing her own political timeline over working families and commuters.
The MTA’s accusations of “greedy demands” are equally misleading. Our unions are seeking a modest contract that keeps wages just above inflation and recognizes the cost of living in New York. These are not excessive demands; they are fair, reasonable, and in line with surrounding contracts in the industry.
Finally, the suggestion that outdated work rules are obstacles to a deal is nothing more than a convenient talking point. Management never raised work rules as a real issue during more than a year of talks. To trot it out now is a distraction from the truth: the MTA and Governor Hochul have stalled progress, not the men and women who keep the trains running.
LIRR workers have sacrificed, adapted, and delivered for New Yorkers day after day. It is time for the Governor and the MTA to stop spreading misinformation and start negotiating in good faith.
New Yorkers deserve reliable rail service. LIRR workers deserve a fair contract. The facts are clear.
