The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and other unions representing engineers on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) overwhelmingly voted on Monday to go on strike — but not for a while.

Almost all 600 active BLET members approved a work stoppage, but the union said on Sept. 15 that no job action is imminent, as it requested federal mediation from President Trump. That would include up to six months of negotiation and a 60-day cooling-off period. Should a deal not be reached before then, the earliest walkout could happen in mid-May.

BLET national and local leaders announced the results of a strike vote by members during a news conference in Midtown. The BLET officers were joined by leaders of the four other LIRR unions to discuss the next steps in their effort to achie

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