New York City and its suburbs are bracing for a possible strike by workers on the Long Island Rail Road, the busiest commuter rail system in North America. Contract negotiations were taking place Friday aimed at reaching a deal that would avert a walkout by train workers. A strike would force the roughly 250,000 people who ride the system each weekday to either work from home, or find alternative routes into New York City from its Long Island suburbs. It could also put more cars on traffic-choked highways, lengthen work commutes and even make it challenging for some sports fans to get into Manhattan to watch the Knicks playoff run or see the Yankees battle the Mets.

NEW YORK (AP) — Many companies ended remote work arrangements that began during the coronavirus pandemic despite resistance from employees who…