Brothers and Sisters,
As we move closer to the May 16 strike deadline, it has become increasingly clear that the Long Island Rail Road has failed to show any real sense of urgency in addressing the concerns of its workforce.
At our March 20th meeting, the Carrier agreed that additional meetings would be scheduled and that efforts would be made to continue discussions in a serious and productive manner. Yet despite the looming deadline and the very real consequences o f allowing this dispute to continue unresolved, the LIRR has shown little interest in following through on those commitments.
Instead of acting with the seriousness this situation demands, the MTA appears content to delay and stall while it casts the shadow of a looming strike over the public. That i s not how a responsible public employer should behave.
Let us be very clear; our dispute is not with the commuters. The people who rely on the LIRR are our friends, our families, our neighbors, and the people who live in the same communities we do. We understand the ramifications of a work stoppage and the disruption to daily life a strike would cause.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the leadership of the MTA. The dismissive comments made by MTA Chairman Janno Lieber about the impact of a strike reveal a troubling disconnect from the riders who’s interest he claims to serve. Such remarks show not only a lack of concern for working railroad families, but also a degree of contempt for the very commuters whose daily lives would be affected.
No one wants a strike. Our goal remains to reach a fair agreement that respects the workforce and protects the public we serve. But if management continues to test our resolve and ignore the seriousness of this moment, they alone will bear responsibility for whatever consequences follow.
We remain united, we remain prepared, and we remain committed to securing the contract that our members have earned.
I look forward t o seeing you at our next General Membership Meeting this upcoming Monday, April 20th.
Yours in solidarity,
Jeffrey Klein, General Chairman
IBEW, Local Union 589