Looming Long Island Rail Road Strike

The possibility of a strike is growing larger and can occur as early as July 20th, just ten days from now. Union leaders and the MTA can not come to an agreement and Congress has no intention of intervening in the negotiations. After the MTA's offering of a 17% wage increase over 7 years, instead of 6, the debate still continues.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Adam E. Moreira

The Long Island Rail Road is one of the busiest commuter trains in the country carrying about 130 thousand riders daily. If a strike were to occur, what would this mean for Long Island commuters? Many still remember the repercussions of the strike in 1994 and MTA has still not announced an official contingency plan. However, in the event of a strike, they do suggest the following travel alternatives on their website:

1. Telecommute (Work from home).
2. Stay with friends and family in or near the City.
3. Discuss using vacation or flex time options with your employer.
4. Carpool with other commuters.
5. Use existing bus services provided by NICE, NYC Transit, and MTA Bus.
6. Plan your trip with the MTA's Trip Planner. 

Are you a Long Island Commuter that would be affected by a strike? Let us know your thoughts or how you plan to deal with it on our Facebook Page.