Dorothy

Most of its riders live outside New York City in two counties populated by nearly three million people.

Most of its riders live outside New York City in two counties populated by nearly three million people.

After the news conference, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Transportation Communications Union said in a statement that the union workers "are not asking for special treatment — they are simply fighting to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of living in the New York region after years without a raise."

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Transportation Communications Union said in a statement Sunday that workers “are not asking for special treatment - they are simply fighting to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of living in the New York region after years without a raise.”

At her news conference, Hochul said workers would lose every dollar that they would gain with a new contract by remaining on strike for three days.

At a news conference Sunday, Hochul said workers would lose every dollar they would gain with a new contract by remaining on strike for three days.

Federal law makes it extremely difficult for rail workers to walk out and even allows Congress to block a strike, but lawmakers didn't intervene here like they did with the nation's freight railroads in 2022.

Federal law makes it extremely difficult for rail workers to walk out and even allows Congress to block a strike, but lawmakers have not intervened as they did with the nation’s freight railroads in 2022.

Would-be commuters were greeted all weekend by train schedule departure boards that listed ghost trains marked “No Passengers” rather than upcoming trains listed by destination.

Would-be commuters were greeted by train departure boards that listed ghost trains marked “No Passengers” rather than upcoming trains listed by destination.

The unions, which represent locomotive engineers, machinists, signalmen and other train workers, have said more substantial raises were warranted to help workers keep up with inflation and rising living costs.

The unions, which represent locomotive engineers, machinists, signalmen and others, have said more substantial raises are warranted to help workers keep up with inflation and rising living costs. ___

"We all know that the railroad is the lifeblood of Long Island. Without it, life as we know it is simply not possible. The bottom line is, no one wins in a strike. Everyone is hurt," she said. Hochul offered to provide refreshments.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said during the news conference that the unions’ proposals would “blow up the MTA’s budget” but he joined the governor’s request for the unions to resume talks.

Janno Lieber, the MTA chairman, said the agency “gave the union everything they said they wanted in terms of pay” and that to him it was apparent the unions always intended to walk out.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said LIRR "gave the union everything they said they wanted in terms of pay," and that to him it was apparent the unions always intended to walk out.

And while remote work options greatly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers still need to show up in person, said Lisa Daglian, executive director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, a commuter advocacy group.

"I feel terrible. Terrible. This is going to hurt. This is going to hurt the island, this is going to hurt the city. ... All we are asking for is fair wages," he said.

With Hochul, a Democrat, facing reelection later this year, the pressure might be on the MTA to strike a deal to end the shutdown, said William Dwyer, a labor relations expert at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where commuter rail workers staged a three-day strike last year.

"She's up for reelection, and Long Island is a critical vote for her," Dwyer said. "So if there's a significant fare hike, that does not bode well for her on Election Day."