BLET Teamsters & Union Coalition Win Historic Strike at LIRR
Source: Teamsters
3,500 Worker Walkout Forces Railroad to Offer Fair Contract
2026.05.19
(NEW YORK) – Teamsters with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and their union coalition have reached a tentative agreement with Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to end the carrier’s first strike in over three decades. The agreement provides workers with raises that maintain their standard of living while strengthening work rules and improving benefits.
“BLET Teamsters and their brothers and sisters across four other unions just showed this entire country what worker solidarity looks like in action,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “These union railroaders made it clear from the start they would not accept a deal that shortchanged them and undercut their standard of living. For three long days they bravely withheld their labor on picket lines across the New York metropolitan area. Every worker in America is reminded of what can be achieved through courage and conviction to fight for a better way of life.”
Thousands of workers from five unions were forced to strike by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) refusal to offer them a fair contract. BLET Teamsters and their coalition partners set up picket lines at major LIRR hubs immediately after midnight on Saturday, May 16.
“This victory was won by union members who stood their ground and refused to be pushed around,” said Mark Wallace, President of the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference. “Our coalition showed the MTA that railroad workers will fight for the respect, pay, and protections we’ve earned. Their unity and determination forced this railroad to finally deliver a fair agreement.”
Read more: https://teamster.org/2026/05/blet-teamsters-union-coalition-win-historic-strike-at-lirr/