After working without raises for more than four years amid an affordability crisis, 500 Rail Teamsters in New York are striking with a coalition of four other unions for a fair contract.
The union coalition operates the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), the nation’s largest commuter rail system.
The solidarity between the Teamsters (BLET-IBT), the Machinists (IAM), Signalmen (BRS), Transportation Communication workers (TCU/IAM), and the Electrical Workers (IBEW) has put the heat on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to offer a fair contract.
Two different Presidential Emergency Mediation boards ruled in favor of the workers and released them to strike. Management has refused to reach a fair agreement.
“The LIRR owns this strike. Union workers have sacrificed so much for the railroad for years while consistently bargaining in good faith for a fair contract,” said Teamsters President Sean O’Brien in a press release. “We will win this fight and the LIRR will give these essential workers the contract they’ve earned.”
TDU stands with Teamster rail workers and the coalition of unions.
Teamsters in metro New York can show support by joining the picket lines daily anytime from 7am to 7pm. The main picket locations will be at Jamaica, Ronkonkoma, and Penn Station.
You can find a full list of strike locations at https://bit.ly/LIRRStrike