Overview
- The unions, which say a walkout could begin early Saturday, met the MTA on Wednesday under National Mediation Board oversight as nearly 300,000 riders braced for disruption.
- The dispute is a fourth‑year raise that starts in June, with unions seeking 5% and the MTA offering 3% or up to 4.5% tied to concessions.
- The MTA’s backup plan adds weekday shuttle buses every 10 minutes from Bay Shore, Hicksville, Mineola, Huntington, Ronkonkoma and near Lakeview to Queens subway hubs during peak hours only.
- Newsday reports the MTA has stepped back from pushing work‑rule changes and is exploring other ways to close the gap, while it warns that meeting the 5% demand without offsets could mean higher fares or service cuts.
- Officials urge remote work because buses cannot replace the railroad, and traffic experts warn many more drivers could gridlock the Long Island Expressway and other key routes.