Photos show strike action as North America’s largest commuter rail system shuts down
A passenger looks at a closed off entrance to the Long Island Rail Road at Grand Central station, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in New York, on the first day of a strike after five unions representing about half the LIRR's workforce walked off the job.
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North America’s largest commuter rail system has shut down after unionized workers went on strike. The Long Island Rail Road in New York ceased operations early Saturday morning as five unions representing about half its workforce walked off the job. The two sides have been negotiating for months on a new contract. But the unions were legally allowed to strike starting at 12:01 a.m. The MTA has said it would provide limited shuttle buses to New York City subway stations in the event of a strike. Gov. Kathy Hochul urged Long Islanders to work from home if possible.
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