Live updates: Contract talks resume Monday morning as LIRR riders bus to NYC
May 18, 2026
Lengthy negotiations between the MTA and unions failed to reach a deal in time to save Monday morning’s commute on the Long Island Rail Road.
The talks that began Sunday afternoon went past 1 a.m. Monday before negotiators called it a night, agreeing to resume discussions six hours later. The
failure to reach a deal means the strike will mar the start of the work week for about a quarter million commuters.
The talks involved five unions representing about half the railroad’s workforce and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the railroad. The strike started Saturday. The two sides have negotiated for years over a new contract.
Follow live updates below:
...read more read less