Governor Hochul Owns This Labor Crisis
The Long Island Rail Road strike did not happen overnight. It is the direct result of failed leadership from Kathy Hochul and an MTA administration that has allowed labor disputes across New York to spiral out of control.
For years, hardworking transit employees have continued to move this state while working without contracts, falling behind inflation, and watching management delay negotiations until frustration reached the breaking point. Instead of stepping in early to prevent a crisis, Governor Hochul stood on the sidelines while tensions grew throughout the transit system.
Now hundreds of thousands of commuters are paying the price.
The strike at the Long Island Rail Road is not just about one union or one contract dispute. It is a warning sign about the growing labor unrest spreading across New York under Hochul’s leadership. From the LIRR, to NYC Transit, to other public sector workers across the state, employees are tired of being ignored, disrespected, and forced to fight endlessly for fair contracts and basic recognition. We know firsthand how bad things have become. TWU Local 106 will be filing Bargaining in Bad Faith charges against the MTA after contracts that should have been settled months ago continue to be withheld while management plays games instead of negotiating honestly.
Governor Hochul claims to support labor but was nowhere to be found until after the unions walked off the job and went on strike. As New Yorkers we deserve a Governor that cares enough to get directly involved, not one that is hiding behind a curtain hoping everything just works out.
The reality is simple: strong leadership could have prevented this strike. Instead, Governor Hochul allowed the situation to deteriorate until New Yorkers woke up to a transportation disaster.
At a time when the MTA faces instability, operational concerns, staffing shortages, and declining morale, Albany should be working to restore confidence and stability — not fueling conflict through inaction.
New Yorkers deserve better than political speeches about supporting workers while labor relations crumble in real time.
Governor Hochul owns this crisis. And unless leadership changes, the labor unrest spreading across New York will only get worse.
Bruce Blakeman will win in November! Blakeman will fix the MTA and New York State!
Philip Valenti, President
