As LIRR strike looms, Hochul warns Long Islanders they may have to stay home

"Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday said Long Island Rail Road commuters should plan to work from home if the train service shuts down for a strike. Five unions representing a majority of the LIRR's workforce could walk off the job as soon as Saturday, as they remain in a stalemate with the MTA over pay raises and work rules. MTA officials last month laid out plans to run shuttle buses to help move Long Island commuters if the rail workers go on strike."

"Hochul said during a news conference at Jones Beach that the buses can carry "essential workers," but pointed out they wouldn't come close to handling the 270,000 riders the LIRR carries each weekday. "I want to be clear that these buses will not be able to replace full Long Island Rail Road service," she said. "That's why the MTA has encouraged employers and employees on Long Island to plan for work-from-home early next week if a strike occurs.""

"The MTA's plan would run shuttle buses from the Bay Shore, Hicksville and Mineola LIRR stations to the Howard Beach-JFK subway station on the A line. Long Islanders at the Huntington and Ronkonkoma LIRR stations could take buses to the Jamaica-179th Street subway stop on the F line. "I want to make sure that commuters are not inconvenienced, and if they have that option [to work from home], they may have to exercise it," Hochul said. "This is about putting their needs first.""

Five unions representing most of the LIRR workforce could strike as soon as Saturday due to a stalemate with the MTA over pay raises and work rules. The MTA plans shuttle buses to move Long Island commuters if rail service stops, including routes from Bay Shore, Hicksville, and Mineola to the Howard Beach-JFK subway station on the A line, and from Huntington and Ronkonkoma to the Jamaica-179th Street subway stop on the F line. Gov. Kathy Hochul said the buses can carry essential workers but cannot handle the roughly 270,000 weekday riders. She urged employers and employees to plan for work-from-home early next week to avoid major inconvenience and potential gridlock if the strike continues into Monday.

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