MTA, union leaders return to the bargaining table today as strike deadline looms on Saturday
We are now less than three days from a strike that would effectively shut down the entire Long Island Rail Road system.
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Today, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials and leaders from a coalition of five unions will return to the bargaining table for the first time since Monday, with the strike deadline quickly approaching.
MTA officials said they made a revised offer to the unions yesterday, but union leaders said there has been little to no progress, going as far as to accuse the transit agency of showing no sense of urgency.
The entire Long Island Rail Road system will shut down on Saturday at 12:01 a.m. without a new deal in place.
The MTA has expanded bus service as part of its contingency plan if the trains stop running.
On Tuesday, the agency added a sixth pickup spot at the Bay Shore station to Howard Beach - JFK Airport with a connection to the A.
If necessary, the shuttles will run only on weekdays during peak hours to Queens to connect people with subways into the rest of the five boroughs.
Other planned stops include Hempstead Lake Park, near the Lakeview Station, the Hicksville station and Mineola to Howard Beach - JFK Airport, as well as the Huntington and Ronkonkoma stations to Jamaica - 179 St.
The MTA continues to urge people to work from home if possible.
This afternoon, union leaders will begin making picket signs and other strike materials at the IBEW Local 589 in Patchogue.
