Long Island Rail Road strike ends as MTA, unions reach tentative deal
Updated on: May 18, 2026 / 11:51 PM EDT / CBS New York
TL;DR
- A tentative agreement has been reached between the MTA and five LIRR unions, ending a three-day strike.
- LIRR service will resume in phases, beginning Tuesday at noon, with full peak service expected by the afternoon rush hour.
- The deal includes raises for LIRR workers and does not raise taxes or fares for riders or taxpayers.
- The strike caused significant disruption for approximately 300,000 daily commuters, necessitating the use of replacement shuttle buses.
- The agreement must still be ratified by the five labor unions.
- This is the first LIRR strike since June 1994.