'No Reason Why A Deal Can't Be Reached': MTA, Unions Walk Away From Wednesday Negotiations With No Deal

LONG ISLAND, NY — Another round of negotiations ended without a deal Wednesday, leaving about 3,500 Long Island Railroad union employees one day closer to a strike — and 300,000 LIRR commuters a day closer to rush hour havoc — per MTA statements at Wednesday’s press conference.

The five unions represent signalmen, electricians, clerks, machinists, and locomotive engineers, MTA Counsel Gary Dellaverson said. While the two sides have yet to reach an agreement on a contract, MTA officials said there’s “No reason why a deal can’t be reached.”

Right now, the main divide is still over 2026 pay and the maintenance of a so-called “real wage” increase against inflation. Unions are pushing for a 5 percent raise while the MTA has pushed for 3 percent, the MTA said. In October, a Presidential Emergency Board recommended a 4.5 percent increase, but Dellaverson said the sides were still apart on the wage question.

“There’s a space in the middle, and we have to find that space where the agreement is, and that’s what we’ve been trying to do,” Dellaverson said.

In an April 29 presentation, MTA officials said the unions and the MTA had agreed to retroactive wage increases for the represented workers, including a 3 percent raise dated June 2023, another 3 percent raise dated June 2024, and a 3.5 percent raise dated June 2025.

The 5 percent raise requested for 2026, the MTA said in that April presentation, isn’t covered in its budget. In a separate press conference on Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she wasn’t keen on the prospect of adding any new costs to MTA service to make up for out-of-budget pay hikes.

“It’s a very sensitive time. There is a path forward, but it’s also one that must make sense for taxpayers and commuters, who I’m not looking to raise fares on or raise taxes,” Hochul said. “Yes, workers deserve to be paid fairly for their work, but at the same time we must be responsible with public funds and the fares paid by Long Island residents.”

Dellaverson told the press the MTA has put forth a contract proposal that would cost it the same amount of money as it would have cost to adopt the recommendations of a presidential review board: $133,788,000, over the 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 fiscal years.

The point of contention between the two sides, Dellaverson said, is over how that money is paid out. Dellaverson said Wednesday that the MTA had proposed giving out four lump sum payments to union employees over a 12-month period. The unions, Dellaverson said, have called the lump sums “a gimmick.” Dellaverson said he disagreed with that categorization.

These negotiations are about the 37-month contract, and now, that fourth year, which would run from June 16 through July 2027.

Dellaverson said negotiations began in October of last year, and he described the ordeal as a “cumbersome 270-day process.” Between October and this month, Dellaverson said, the unions had made “no moves” to facilitate contract negotiations.

“No matter what anyone thinks… the simple fact is that’s false,” he said. “There were no moves made from the five labor unions until today.”

In previous remarks, union representatives have said that the MTA exhibited “no sense of urgency” in its efforts to negotiate with employees.

It is the MTA’s hope, according to Dellaverson, that an agreement can be reached before the May 15, 11:59 p.m. deadline to avoid sending commuters into a panic.

“It is in everybody's interest to not run this down to the last minute,” he said. “The MTA’s customers will be put through stressful situations.”

President of LIRR Brian Free added that the MTA is doing everything they possibly can with the best interests of the people, stating they are focused on Long Island riders. He said the MTA is focused on providing safe and responsible transportation to the riders, and they are trying to negotiate “in good faith.”

“We do not want to strike,” Free said. “That is the last thing we want. It’s not good for the economy. It’s not good for the riders. It’s not good for our employees.”

Keeping the people in mind, Free said the strike would impact employees negatively, creating lost wages.

“We don’t want that for them,” Free said. “We want to pay them fairly and compensate them.”

North Hempstead Town Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte told Patch her office has attended a briefing meeting with the LIRR team every day.

She said that with the strike looming over Long Island, and during the New York Mets versus New York Yankees Subway Series dates, the Mets have agreed to make their park and ride lot available at a daily nominal cost of $6 during weekdays. This will connect customers to the 7 subway line at Mets-Willets Station.