Threat of a possible strike still looms should union workers with the Long Island Rail Road not reach an agreement by July 20, which could leave many Long Island commuters stranded at the station.
In Manhasset, travelers from the Manhasset and Plandome stations are taking notice of the potential strike.
“I work in the city. I have no backup plan at all. Maybe I will telecommute, ride my bike, drive my car to the subway stop in Queens, those are the alternatives that are available to me, but I haven’t really thought it through.” said John Fitzsimons. “There is a lot of hype. Hopefully they will come to their senses and resolve their issues because it’s going to be terribly disruptive for everyone.”
Despite the 5,400 LIRR employees threatening to walk off the job, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has refused to intercede because, he said, it is up to Congress to end the strike. According to Thomas F. Prendergast, CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the MTA is pushing for a solution that will not overly burden LIRR passengers.
“I strongly believe that a resolution can be reached in a fiscally responsible manner,” Prendergast states in his letter to Congress. “Unfortunately, the union’s leadership has taken the position that the MTA must meet its demands or it will strike, a threat they feel comfortable making because they assume Congress will stop their strike after a few days.”
Union leaders note that the LIRR has been without a contract since 2010. “The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has demanded benefit cuts and other concessions from workers,” LIRR Union officials state in a letter to the United States Congress. “MTA management has reject recommendations from two Presidential Emergency Boards that would end the dispute. Union members ask for nothing more than what both these neutral federal boards have already recommended.”
“If there is a strike, I plan to drive to my job near Battery Park. I’m a chef, and I have to cook, so I have to be there,” said Ari Nieminen. “My wife may be able to telecommute because she is an IT, but I can’t telecommute the food. I have no choice but to go in.”
For people without a car, transportation options will be limited, with many expected to be left to rely on taxis and buses to get around.
“I own restaurants in the city area, and I have to go to work every day. If the strike happens, my mother lives in Queens, so I will probably have to drive to her, park my car there and then jump on the subway,” said Aiden Stenson. “There is going to be an awful amount of traffic, but I plan to come back to Manhasset in the evening. I usually go back and forth a few times a day, so it’s really going to bad for me if there is a strike. I can’t not go to work,”
“The negative economic and human impact of a strike would be huge,” said Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council Chairman Mark Epstein, “and the only responsible option is to keep talking and working to reach an agreement which is fair and does not result in an added financial burden on riders.”
With less than a week to decide, it remains uncertain if an agreement will be struck before July 20, after press time.
For the latest information on the potential Long Island Railroad strike, go to www.manhassetpress.com for daily updates.
