Will the Long Island Railroad strike be settled before Friday, May 22?
55% of users predicted YES — the community got this one right. 38 predictions cast.
The Long Island Rail Road strike ended the evening of Monday, May 18, 2026, after contract negotiators reached an agreement that concluded three days of work stoppage. Service resumed on Tuesday, May 19, beginning at noon, with full operations restored by the afternoon commute — well in advance of the May 22 deadline in the question.
The four-year agreement gives workers annual wage increases of 3%, 3%, 3.5%, and 4.5% in the final year, plus a one-time $3,000 lump-sum payment and full retroactive pay. The central dispute had been wages: union leaders sought a 5% annual increase while the Metropolitan Transportation Authority argued that figure would force fare hikes or strain the agency's budget. The strike, which began Saturday, May 16, halted service for nearly 300,000 daily commuters.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the resolution Monday evening. The work stoppage was the first LIRR strike in more than 30 years and the longest in nearly four decades. The community gave the question a 55% probability of resolving yes; the settlement came before the deadline.