LIRR unions threaten to strike in contract dispute — as MTA urges riders to WFH

Nearly half of Long Island Rail Road workers are threatening to walk off the job as early as next week — and the MTA’s plan to deal with the “looming strike” is by telling riders to work from home.

Five unions, comprising about 3,400 workers or 49% of the Long Island Railroad’s workforce, are pushing for retroactive raises that would bump their pay up 16% from 3 years ago.  

MTA leaders prefer a 9.5% wage increase, or would like concessions from union members on existing work rules that “significantly inflate salaries,” according to LIRR President Rob Free.

“A fair offer has been made,” Free told reporters at a news conference in Penn Station Thursday. “They have to realize they need to come to the table and make concessions.”

Free advised people who take the LIRR train to work to make alternate plans in case the “looming” strike”” work stoppage does happen.

“In the event of a strike we’re encouraging all those who can work from home to do so,” Free said.

The transit agency is providing shuttle buses every 10 minutes for “essential workers,” but Shanifah Rieara, MTA’s Chief Customer Officer, cautioned the service is “limited.”

“I’ll repeat, limited bus service,” Rieara said. “We couldn’t possibly replace the full service that LIRR runs every day.”

Rieara said the MTA will post details of the shuttle service on its website.

“If you can work from home we ask that you do so,” she said.

But a Long Islander who works in guest services at a hotel in Manhattan said the MTA’s plan for riders to work from home is “no good.”

“Not everybody can afford to work from home,” the 65-year-old woman told The Post reporter after hearing an announcement overhead in Penn Station Thursday afternoon advising riders to make work from home plans.

“They need to come to an agreement,” said the rider, who takes the train from Central Islip into Manhattan five days a week.

“The MTA is making so much money. I give them almost $400 every month.”

“MTA should be able to pay them a fair wage. Everything is expensive. We live in a different world now,” she said.