MTA Chair Janno Lieber Talks LIRR Strike

Summary

Podcast Summary: Bloomberg Talks – “MTA Chair Janno Lieber Talks LIRR Strike”

Date: May 18, 2026
Host: Tom Keene, Paul Sweeney (Bloomberg)
Guest: Janno Lieber, Chair of the MTA

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Overview

This episode provides a timely and in-depth conversation with Janno Lieber, Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), focusing on the ongoing Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) strike. Lieber discusses the strike’s impact on New York transit, labor negotiations, the complexity of MTA operations, and ways the agency is addressing the situation to prevent fare hikes or new taxes. The interview offers keen insights into transit labor relations, the financial challenges facing the MTA, and crisis management in public transportation.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The LIRR Strike: Status and Public Response

• Current Situation (00:26–01:41):
  • Tom Keene opens with praise for Lieber’s public service and asks about the biggest challenge of the day.
  • Lieber explains that despite the strike, the system is functioning well due to many commuters opting to telework.
    • Quote:

      "Most people have taken the governor's suggestion to make it a Telework Day… turnout at our shuttle bus locations has been pretty light, so people who have to come into the city are getting there."
      — Janno Lieber (01:03)

  • Subway service is running smoothly, facilitating access for those commuting from Queens.

Prospects for Resolution and Duration

• Negotiation Progress (01:41–02:27):
  • Talks went late into the night and resumed early in the morning.
  • There is hope for a quick resolution, but union demands for higher wages than other MTA workers remain a sticking point.
    • Quote:

      "We do not want… better wages than the rest of MTA workers receive to result in additional fare hikes or additional taxes. That's why we're pushing back a little bit on the strikers."
      — Janno Lieber (01:48)

• Service Restoration (02:27–03:00):
  • Once a deal is struck, service could resume as soon as the next day, but logistical and safety checks are required.
    • Quote:

      "Whenever we get it done, we think we get service back the next day... we have to perform a lot of federally required inspections."
      — Janno Lieber (02:35)

Understanding MTA Labor Complexity

• Structure and Pattern Bargaining (03:00–04:09):
  • There are 80 separate unions within the MTA, making negotiations complex.
  • The agency uses “pattern bargaining”—agreement with the largest union sets parameters for others.
    • Quote:

      "We have 80 separate unions... But generally speaking, we do what we call pattern bargaining. We make a deal with the biggest union and then the others have to fit their deals within the economic box."
      — Janno Lieber (03:26)

  • The current conflict stems from a group attempting to “go outside the box” for a special deal.

Ongoing Negotiations and Political Involvement

• Live Status Update (04:09–04:42):
  • Negotiations ongoing as of 7:30am; Governor closely involved, but little federal role now.
    • Quote:

      "They're going on right now at the MTA headquarters a couple of floors away from where I am speaking to you from."
      — Janno Lieber (05:53)

    • Quote:

      "The governor has been... the major player. Congress really doesn't have a role here because... there's really no further role for the federal government."
      — Janno Lieber (04:42)

Financial Pressures and Public Impact

• LIRR Subsidization (05:12–05:41):
  • LIRR is the most highly subsidized MTA division; solution cannot involve further burdening taxpayers.
    • Quote:

      "The Long Island Railroad is the most highly subsidized of our MTA operations... can't expect regional taxpayers to keep pumping money for special deals."
      — Janno Lieber (05:17)

Wage Disputes and Sticking Points

• Wages and Benefits (06:01–06:27):
  • Lieber refrains from specific details but confirms the main issues are wages and benefits—“basic stuff.”

Public Relations and Event Disruptions

• PR Around Event Fares (06:27–07:41):
  • Discussion about the controversial $150 fare to the World Cup, with Lieber sympathizing with New Jersey Transit’s plight.
    • Quote:

      "They have a tough financial situation… they're trying to make sure that they don't get killed because... they got to turn off their system to accommodate soccer fans."
      — Janno Lieber (07:04)

Light Moments & Conclusion

• On the Famous ‘Cannonball’ Train (07:41–07:49):
  • Keene playfully asks about the status of the iconic Cannonball train for Memorial Day weekend.
    • Quote:

      "For you we'll try to make sure the Cannonball runs, Tom."
      — Janno Lieber (07:45)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Today's Operations:

  "Most people have taken the governor's suggestion to make it a Telework Day…"
  (Janno Lieber, 01:03)

• On Why the Union’s Wage Request is a Problem:

  "We do not want to have the outcome of this deal... to result in additional fare hikes or additional taxes."
  (Lieber, 01:48)

• On Labor Complexity:

  "We have 80 separate unions in effect to negotiate with. It is really a complicated labor environment..."
  (Lieber, 03:26)

• On MTA's Financial Limits:

  "We can't expect regional taxpayers to keep pumping money for special deals into the Long Island Railroad."
  (Lieber, 05:17)

• On Public Relations Challenges:

  "I have a little sympathy for the folks at New Jersey Transit... I think it's getting worked out over time."
  (Lieber, 07:04)

• Light-hearted Farewell:

  "For you we'll try to make sure the Cannonball runs, Tom."
  (Lieber, 07:45)

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Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |----------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:26 | Opening, Lieber’s biggest headache | | 01:03 | Commuter response, telework, shuttle bus updates | | 01:41 | Length and prognosis for the strike | | 02:35 | Timeline for restoring service after strike | | 03:26 | Labor organization complexity (80 unions) | | 04:17 | Status of negotiations, governor’s involvement | | 05:17 | LIRR’s budget and subsidy realities | | 06:11 | Core of ongoing labor negotiation disputes | | 07:04 | Event fare controversy (World Cup example) | | 07:41 | Cannonball train light moment |

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Summary & Takeaways

Janno Lieber provides a candid update on the LIRR strike, emphasizing careful negotiation to avoid undue fare increases or tax hikes. The complexity of labor bargaining in the MTA is highlighted, revealing just how intricate and interdependent transit operations and wage talks can be. Listeners gain insight into the MTA’s financial challenges, the pressure points in the labor dispute, and the careful balance required to keep New York moving—especially during emergencies. The episode concludes on a lighter note, showing the human side of transit leadership even during a crisis.

Transcript

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[Tom Keene]

so much for the city of New York, including being actively involved in the rebuild of lower Manhatt patent after September 11th of 2001. Governor Cuomo the younger had him move forward to driving so much of the MTA where he continues to provide wonderful service across a huge reach. General Lieber joins us this morning. General, I don't, I'm not familiar with the LI are other than the cannonball out to Montauk and back. That's the fun part of it. This morning is not fun for you. What's your biggest headache this morning?

[General Lieber]

You know what, Tom? Services is actually the system is working. Most people have taken the governor's suggestion to make it a Telework Day. 95% of Long Islanders telework during COVID and they, they know how to do it. The turnout at our shuttle bus locations has been pretty light, so people who have to come into the city are getting there. And the subway service from the Queens subway stations where people being dropped off has been fantastic. So, so far so good. But it's, it's the first day and you know, we would like to resolve this issue and restore Long island railroad service, which carries like 300,000 people a

[Paul Sweeney]

day most days at this point, given what we know. Jano, how long would you expect this strike to last?

[General Lieber]

Listen, we made progress yesterday. The talks were productive. It went on until 130 in the morning. We're back at the table already this morning. We are hopeful that we can put this to bed, but the union's got to move a little bit further and make sure and your listeners get it. We do not want to have the outcome of this deal which is a request for better wages than the rest of MTA workers receive to result in additional fare hikes or additional taxes. That's why we're pushing back a little bit on the strikers.

[Paul Sweeney]

Assuming a deal gets done, what's the ramp up time to get this railroad back up and running to service its customers?

[General Lieber]

Generally speaking, it's whenever we get it done, we think we get service back the next day. And that's because not only got to move people and equipment into position, we have to perform a lot of federally required inspections, especially of the trains. So there's some of the mechanics that have to be gone through before we can put those. Put those trains back on, on the rails and start to take passengers where they're going.

[Tom Keene]

How unified is your system? I mean, you've got 300,000 plus on the LIR. You got Metro north for other things. Jano, I'm not familiar with. I'm your worst nightmare, General. I have no life. I go nowhere. But I look, Giano, at the system. How unified, like, does a driver make the same amount on each system to this, the ticket? People make the same amount. How unified is the system?

[General Lieber]

Oh, in the sense of. You're right. That there are different unions. We have, Tom, we have 80 separate bargaining units. We have 80 separate unions in effect, to negotiate with. It is really a complicated labor environment, and there are differences among them. But generally speaking, we do what we call pattern bargaining. We make a deal with the biggest union and then the others have to fit their deals within the economic box that. That creates this group of unions or wants to go outside the box to get us a special deal. And that is the source of the tension and the conflict so far. But as I said, we're trying to resolve it. Chop, chop, right now.

[Paul Sweeney]

General, when Give us a state of the negotiations right now. Are talks ongoing? Are they scheduled? What's the story of the negotiations?

[General Lieber]

Yeah, they're going on right now. They resumed at 7:30 this morning. As I said, folks took a break at about 130 in the morning last night. I was here with them, and they're back at the table right now as we're speaking. So I don't have an update, but work is going on right now.

[Paul Sweeney]

Aside from the Federal Mediation Board that's helping in the discussions, is anyone in Congress or in the executive branch helping the parties reach a deal?

[General Lieber]

Well, I mean, the governor has been, you know, side by side with us throughout, and she has been monitoring the discussions very closely. I've been in touch with her team throughout the night, in fact, as well as the governor herself. So she's been the major player. You know, Congress really doesn't have a role here because once these unions were released by so they could go on strike by Trump's National Mediation Board, there's really no further role for the federal government.

[Tom Keene]

Does the Long Island Railroad break even?

[General Lieber]

No way. In fact, the Long Island Railroad is the most highly subsidized of our MTA operations, the subways, the Metro north and Long Island Railroad. So you're right, Tom, your question highlights the fact that we can't expect regional taxpayers to keep pumping Money for special deals into the Long Island Railroad.

[Tom Keene]

Everybody up till 130. Our John Tucker wants to know when will the talks restart. Do you start this morning? Do you have a one day cool off? Which hotel should Alexis, Christopher, go protest that?

[General Lieber]

No, this is. They're going on right now at the MTA headquarters a couple of floors away from where I am speaking to you from.

[Paul Sweeney]

Jano, can you just summarize kind of where we are right now in terms of what's the differential? What's. Is there a bid ask spread that is on wages? What is the real stumbling block right now?

[General Lieber]

Honestly, Paul, it's not. I don't know if it's productive for me to get into those details because we're trying to iron something out. But you know, we talked about a little bit yesterday. You know it's wages and benefits and you know, basic, basic stuff like that.

[Tom Keene]

You know. Look, General is where as we're getting ready and I know you've got to get back to your busy day. I'm using artificial intelligence in here. Google Gemini General and everything I'm dealing with. Here's my question to AI this morning. Was the $150 fare to the World cup was that Channel Lieber's fault? And here's the answer from I know you can't pin this one Channel Lieber. What a mess. Geno discuss just the PR madness of that fair.

[General Lieber]

Well, the PR is the pr. But I'll tell you this. I am sympathetic to the folks who run New Jersey Transit, which, you know, they operate a system where they're running on Amtrak railroads and Amtrak infrastructure that has not been maintained. They have a tough financial situation and they're trying to make sure that they don't get killed because budgetarily, because there's a, there's a, you know, they got to turn off their system to accommodate soccer fans who come from other countries and are paying $1,000 a ticket. So I have a little sympathy for the folks at New Jersey Transit. I think it's getting worked out over time.

[Tom Keene]

Will the Cannonball run this weekend? Come on Memorial Day weekend. Come on, General.

[General Lieber]

For you we'll try to make sure the Cannonball runs. Tom.

[Tom Keene]

Thank you, General Lieber. Thank you. Thank you so much. In his incredibly busy day.

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