Rail travel

Ongoing New York Rail Strike Affects 270K Commuters

Is this a union-made disaster or a management failure that left workers with no choice?

Published 3 days ago

Ongoing New York Rail Strike Affects 270K Commuters

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Above: Rail workers strike picket in front of Penn Station in New York City on May 18. Image credit: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

The Spin

Republican narrative

The LIRR strike is a union-made disaster — 3,500 workers holding 250,000 commuters hostage while already averaging $136,000 in cash compensation is indefensible. Governor Hochul wasted billions on politicized projects but won't meet reasonable demands for blue-collar Long Islanders. Greedy work rules and outsized demands blew up negotiations, and riders are paying the price.

Nick LaLota on X New York Post

Democratic narrative

Trump-appointed review boards actually sided with the unions, saying workers deserved more than the MTA offered — so blaming the strike on Hochul ignores who set this crisis in motion. In her limited capacity, Governor Hochul moved fast to cushion the blow. Workers haven't seen a raise since 2022, and record inflation makes their demands far more reasonable than the MTA admits.

Kathy Hochul on X The New York Times