New York rail commuter chaos may be averted as unions and management head to mediation

New York rail commuter chaos may be averted as unions and management head to mediation4 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGrace Eliza GoodwinBloomberg via Getty ImagesLong Island Rail Road (LIRR) workers picket outside of Penn Station in New York, on 16 May Management and labour unions for workers on North America's busiest rail line have been summoned to mediation after a strike threatened the morning commute for hundreds of thousands of passengers in the New York City region.Unions representing about 3,500 workers on New York's Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) launched the strike on Saturday after failing to reach a deal with rail management over pay and work rules.It was the first strike on the LIRR in over 30 years, following a two-day stoppage in 1994.A federal labour agency stepped in on Sunday to help resume bargaining between the unions and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) had warned that there is "no substitute" for the railway and urged commuters to work remotely on Monday if possible as it warned commuters of "severe congestion and delays". The National Mediation Board - the federal agency that governs railroads and airlines - summoned the two sides to mediation late on Sunday, the Associated Press reported."Because of your solidarity and strength, your Long Island Rail Road Union Coalition is back at the bargaining table right now with MTA and LIRR management. Your pressure is working. Your massive turnout on the picket lines is working," IAM Union, one of five in the coalition on strike, said on Sunday.The shutdown has already affected travel and events across the region. The New York Mets baseball team warned fans attending weekend games at Citi Field in Queens to expect transport difficulties.New York Governor Kathy Hochul had urged unions and MTA to come to an agreement, warning that an extended shutdown would cause widespread dis...