Busiest U.S. Commuter Railroad Comes to a Standstill for the First Time Since 1994

/PRNewswire/ - Teamsters with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) have started a strike together with their bargaining coalition consisting of 3,500 workers from five unions.

"The LIRR bears responsibility for this action. Union members have given years of dedicated service to the railroad while negotiating in good faith for equitable terms," stated Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Hundreds of thousands of daily riders depend on our members' efforts. The LIRR is leaving passengers without service while withholding fair wages, benefits, and recognition from BLET Teamsters and fellow union employees. The entire 1.3 million Teamsters membership stands united with those on the picket line. We will prevail and secure the contract these vital workers deserve."

The LIRR serves as America's busiest commuter line, transporting 300,000 passengers each day. It operates under the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). This marks the first work stoppage at the carrier in 32 years.

"This action could have been avoided if the MTA and LIRR had accepted the reasonable proposals put forward by government mediators on multiple occasions. Instead, management declined," explained Mark Wallace, President of the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference. "We urge LIRR leadership to engage seriously and prevent further needless inconvenience for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. They know how to reach us when prepared: right here on the picket lines."

The Teamsters represent more than 500 locomotive engineers at the railroad. These workers have gone without pay increases for three years during contract negotiations.

"To all LIRR riders facing disruptions, understand that the MTA provided no alternative but to strike," said Gil Lang, General Chairman of the BLET's LIRR General Committee. "We prefer not to be here. Yet after three years without raises, further concessions to offset MTA mismanagement are impossible."

Established in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million workers across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for additional details. Follow updates on X at @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:
Jamie Horwit, (202) 549-2021
[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters