NEW YORK CITY, New York: Unionized workers went on strike for the first time in three decades, bringing the Long Island Rail Road, North America's largest commuter rail system, to a grinding halt on May 16.

The railroad serving New York City and its eastern suburbs stopped running just after midnight because five unions, representing about half of the workforce, went on strike.

The unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates the railroad, had been negotiating a new contract for months. The Trump administration tried to help reach a deal, but the unions were legally allowed to strike starting at 12:01 a.m. on May 16.

Kevin Sexton, a union leader, said no new talks have been scheduled and that both sides remain far apart. He added that they are truly sorry for the situation.

However, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said the agency had already offered everything the unions asked for in terms of pay and believes the unions always planned to walk out.

This is the first strike since 1994 and is expected to create major problems, especially for sports fans heading to games and for people visiting Madison Square Garden, which sits above Penn Station. If the strike continues into the workweek, about 250,000 daily commuters will have to find other ways to travel from Long Island to the city, likely causing heavy road traffic.

Some people may work from home, as Governor Kathy Hochul suggested, but many workers—such as those in construction, healthcare, and schools—cannot do so. The MTA plans to run limited shuttle buses, but these won't be enough to handle the usual number of passengers.

The main disagreement in the contract talks is over wages and healthcare costs. The MTA says the unions' demands could lead to higher fares and affect other labor negotiations. The unions argue that workers need better pay to keep up with inflation and rising living costs.

Union member Duane O'Connor said he feels bad for commuters but insists workers are only asking for fair wages after years of high inflation. Some riders sympathize but worry they will end up paying more if fares increase.

There is also political tension around the strike. Governor Hochul blamed the Trump administration for ending mediation too early, while Trump denied involvement and blamed Hochul instead.

With Hochul facing reelection, experts say there is pressure to resolve the strike quickly, especially since Long Island voters are important to her campaign.