LIRR strike could hit next week: here’s what riders need to know

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Nearly 300,000 Long Island Rail Road riders could face disrupted commutes as early as next Thursday, as unions threaten the agency’s first strike in nearly 30 years. Unions representing over 3,000 workers, or roughly half of the railroad’s workforce, could walk out on September 18 unless they receive higher raises than those already negotiated with the MTA, which says half of the workforce has already accepted the deal. Even a partial strike would halt all LIRR service, since striking employees include engineers, signalmen, and other essential staff.

Roughly 600 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are currently casting ballots on whether to strike as soon as September 18. Members