North America’s largest commuter rail system shuts down as workers strike

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:10]What do we want? CONTRACT! WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW!

[00:00:14]When we fight? We win!

[00:00:16]When we fight? We win!

[00:00:19]When we fight? We win!

[00:00:21]It was It's no sense of urgency for the MTA to settle a contract. We're pretty much 3 years without without a contract. When do we want They don't When do we You know, they If they get their contract with the construction stuff like that, When do we want it? this place will be in worse condition. What do we want?

[00:00:36]They don't care about their employees.

[00:00:37]They don't take care of their employees.

[00:00:46]Uh I don't see anybody letting it go that long.

[00:00:51]I see it ended up Normally, if we can't reach an agreement of some sort or whatever, and we're still on strike, it ends up the president's going to step in.

[00:01:05]Or Congress is going to step in.

[00:01:07]Somebody's going to step in.

[00:01:09]We're pretty vital in this area.

[00:01:12]What goes on and it takes a big hit if we're not doing what we're doing.

[00:01:16]When do we want it? Now!

[00:01:19]Contract!

[00:01:20]When do we want it? Now!

[00:01:23]Contract!

[00:01:24]When do we want it? Now!

[00:01:43]Um We're all from Long Island. The commuters are our friends, our neighbors, our family in some cases.

[00:01:49]We're not looking to hurt the commuters.

[00:01:51]Unfortunately, the MTA doesn't care about us, and they obviously don't care about their commuters, either. Because you know what the MTA said several times? Tell them to take the other route if they don't like it.

[00:02:02]So, that's not our stance. That's the MTA's feeling.

[00:02:06]Cuz they don't really care.

[00:02:54]The The the the the wages is really what we're after.

[00:02:59]You know, the 3.3% whatever the company's offering us, it's just not keeping up with inflation. For example, April 3.8% inflation, that's more than anything the MTA is offering us. So, all we're here is just we're just trying to fight for fair wages for us, fair wages for the other unions, just to keep to keep keep pace with inflation.