Long Island Rail Road Workers Threaten to Strike Unless MTA Agrees to Raises

As seen on CBS News

Unions representing half the Long Island Rail Road workforce are threatening to go on strike in 10 days unless the Metropolitan Transportation Authority agrees to their demands for raises.

The unions representing more than 3,700 LIRR workers, including engineers and ticket workers, claim higher wages are three years overdue to reasonably keep up with the cost of living.

The MTA says the LIRR already has the highest paid railroad workforce in the nation and that the unions are being unreasonable. Engineers earn an average of $160,000 per year, with overtime, according to the agency.  

The unions already turned down a 9.5% raise over the next three years, which other MTA unions accepted. One of them walked the picket lines for three days during the NJ Transit strike in May.  

"We have to stick up to the riders, and riders are a little frustrated seeing all this overtime and triple wages," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said.