By Nick Wurst and Matt Foster, both members of SMART-TD and Railroad Workers United
The Independent Socialist Group stands in solidarity with workers at the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) in New York, where approximately 3,500 members of rail unions have taken strike action against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) which owns and operates LIRR. The coalition of rail unions includes the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, The International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 19, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Transportation Communications Union (which is affiliated to IAM).
In their last offer (as described in Presidential Advisory Board 254) the unions demanded 14.5% pay increases, retroactive to June 16, 2023 and continuing to July 16, 2026, and a lump sum payment of $3,000 for all employees. The LIRR is the busiest commuter railroad in the US, and a victory for workers would serve as an inspiration to railroad workers everywhere, especially those working in passenger service.
The Democratic Party, which runs the MTA, refused to budge on the issue of wage increases, while the workforce of LIRR has gone three years without any pay increases through the ongoing cost of living crisis. Democratic Party politicians, including NY Governor Hochul, have accused railroad workers of being greedy, have blamed Trump for not invoking the strike-blocking powers of the Railway Labor Act (abbreviated RLA, which Democratic president Biden used to block freight railroad workers from exercising their right to strike in 2022), and have threatened to raise prices for passengers if railroad workers win their raises. Now that the strike has begun, Trump and the Republican majority in Congress, presumably with the full support of the New York Democratic Party, could invoke the RLA and force a contract upon the LIRR strikers, making any continuation of the strike illegal.
At the same time as the “cooling-off” period of the RLA allowed LIRR workers to legally strike, other MTA workers of the Transportation Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 had their contract expire. So far, TWU leadership has not called their membership out on strike, missing an opportunity for a powerful joint strike with the LIRR workers. The TWU membership is under the anti-labor Taylor Law, a New York state law which blocks public sector workers from striking, but with the solidarity of LIRR workers and the broader labor movement, the TWU could follow the example of other unions around the country that have carried out successful illegal strikes in recent years. Within TWU, there is an organization called Transit Workers for a Fighting Union (which in turn is part of a broader organization called “Transit Workers for a Just Contract”) who raise this exact point in one of their leaflets.
Meanwhile, other railroad unions have stayed quiet. For example, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD), the largest railroad union by membership numbers, which represents other workers at LIRR, has made no public statement of solidarity with the strike, or public instruction for members to not cross the picket line. SMART-TD and BLET have had a long history of fratricide, in recent years they have raided each other’s membership, engaged in open wars of words in official statements, and come down on opposite sides of inter-corporate battles in the rail industry. In 2024 BLET supported the profit-hungry Ancora investor group’s attempted takeover of Norfolk Southern (NS) while SMART-TD supported the status quo NS hierarchy which had overseen the 2022 contract battle and the 2023 East Palestine derailment. In 2025, SMART-TD encouraged their members to continue to report to work at NJ Transit while the BLET was on strike, and while their statement seemed to say they would draw the line at moving any trains, it also took shots at the BLET, suggesting the BLET was irresponsible and selfish for pushing for more than what SMART-TD and the other rail unions had settled for. Currently, SMART-TD is now publicly calling for government regulators to approve the largest consolidation of corporate power in railroad history as Union Pacific attempts to buy NS, while the BLET has entered into a coalition with two rival rail corporations, BNSF and CPKC, in order to try and block the merger.
ISG says:
- Unite and mobilize to win the strike! TWU Local 100 should immediately initiate their own strike, and enter into an agreement with the rail unions where all parties refuse to accept a tentative agreement until all the various unions have their demands met. All of the unions involved need to turn out all of their members, including non-railroad workers, to join the picket lines as much as possible. The BLET is affiliated to the Teamsters, IAM has many non-railroad workers in its ranks, IBEW represents a huge number of construction workers in NYC. These workers need to come to the assistance of their brothers and sisters at LIRR.
- Solidarity from the rest of rail labor and the broader labor movement! SMART-TD and all other rail unions at LIRR must respect the picket line, and should come out in support of the strikers, not just with words but by mobilizing their membership. All unions in the NYC area should turn out their members to support the strikers.
- Aim high! The unions should be fighting for even more ambitious demands, aiming to outpace inflation, secure a living wage that will not force workers to rely on overtime, and set a high bar for all other NYC area workers to fight for in their own contract negotiations.
- Freeze ticket prices at their current levels! Public transit is already too expensive, and unions and passenger advocacy groups need to work together to make sure the MTA bureaucrats and their Democrat bosses don’t divide workers against passengers.
- No faith in the Democrats, or Trump! At any point, Trump and Congress could invoke the Railway Labor Act and impose a contract on the strikers. The Democrats have already shown their true colors, accusing workers of being greedy, threatening rate increases, and asking Trump to block the strike. Going forward, NYC unions need to run their own candidates, independent of the Democrats and Republicans, as a step toward a new workers party that actually represents the interests of workers and is accountable to them.
We are also republishing here solidarity messages for the LIRR strikers that we have received from international trade union activists:
The National Shop Stewards Network in the UK is sending solidarity to your strike. We are a network of rank & file trade unionists, with 9 national unions affiliated to us. We will spread word about your struggle through the trade union movement in the UK
-Rob Williams, NSSN Chair
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union, representing civil servants in the UK, sends full support to the Long Island Railroad strikers. The failure of the MTA to agree a new union contract, with pay rises and protection of your working conditions is not acceptable. Only by our labour are the metropolises kept in motion. Victory to the LIRR strike; “if the workers take a notion, they can stop all speeding trains, every boat upon the ocean, they can tie with mighty chains.” Solidarity!
-Dave Semple, PCS Deputy President
Solidarity to the Long Island Railroad workers on strike from the Scottish Government Group within the Public and Commercial Services Union, particularly on behalf of our members in Transport Scotland who know exactly how vital Railway workers of all kinds are to the people and fabric of any country. You have our full support. Keep fighting!
-Fiona Brittle, PCS National Executive Committee and Scottish Government Group Executive Committee
Members in the Home Office section of the Public and Commercial Services union send full support and solidarity to workers taking strike action on the Long Island Rail Road. In the week when London Underground tube drivers, represented by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, will strike, your action is another reminder that real progress is won not by waiting politely, but through the organised power of workers acting together.
-Craig Worswick, Home Office Group Executive Committee and National Standing Orders Committee
Glasgow City UNISON sends full support to striking LIRR workers. We stand firmly with you in your struggle against MTA for fair pay and conditions. The strength and resolve of organised workers in the face of bosses determined to drive down conditions can win. Keep fighting and solidarity!
-Chris Sermanni, Branch Secretary UNISON Glasgow City
Solidarity and victory to the Long Island transport workers.
-NIPSA (Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance)
Full support and solidarity in your struggle.
-Jim McFarlane, Dundee City UNISON and National Executive Council member
Full support to our fellow comrades in New York taking the fight in industrial struggle. Good luck to you and keep up the fight. Stay strong! Solidarity,
-Stephen McCann, Conditions of Service Officer at Unison, Glasgow City Branch with 13,000 members.
Solidarity to all striking Long Island rail workers from Nottinghamshire Trades Union Council, UK. I will send information about your strike to our affiliated rail workers unions.
-Jon Dale, International Officer Nottinghamshire Trades Union Council
Solidarity from all Socialist Party comrades on the PCS National Executive – the Union for government workers in the UK. Our struggle is your struggle and we stand with you in solidarity!
Solidarity to all striking Long Island rail workers from Hounslow Trades Union Council, west London, UK. Solidarity to all subway and bus workers denied their right to take strike action by section 210 of the Taylor Law. This restriction is unjust and must be abolished. I will send updates on your dispute to all our affiliated transport workers unions.
-Ian Clements, Chair Hounslow Trades Union Council
Victory to the Long Island strikers and success for all your demands.
-Brian Debus, President Hackney Trades Council
Solidarity from Southampton Trades Council
-Maggie Fricker President
Solidarity to all Long Island Rail Workers. Wishing you a speedy victory 🚩
-Jane Nellist, President of Coventry TUC.
Solidarity from Socialist Party members in the GMB general union, one of the UK’s largest trade unions. We stand in solidarity with all Long Island Railroad workers taking action. Your struggle is our struggle.
Solidarity to the strike of workers on the Long Island Railroad
-Duncan Moore UCU national executive
Solidarity to the Long Island Railworkers in their strike
-Dean Young, youth officer on behalf of Unite branch NW/0538
Solidarity with Long Island railroad workers. The law is used against workers defending their conditions rather than profiteering bosses internationally. We have to work together to fight back internationally.
– Paul Kershaw, Chair Unite LE1111 branch
Solidarity with Long Island Railworkers taking industrial action.
-Mark Evans Secretary Swansea Trades Council
Solidarity from Worcestershire National Education Union Support Staff and Teachers.
Victory to all strikers at Long Island railroad
-Jean Thorpe, Chair Nottingham City Unison and President Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Trades Council
Wishing Long Island Railroad workers a successful outcome to their industrial action.
– Clive Walder, Unite the Union WM6030 branch retired member
Independent Socialist Group 