New York officials urged commuters to work from home Monday as a strike by Long Island Rail Road workers threatened to disrupt travel for hundreds of thousands of riders across the region.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority were preparing emergency transit alternatives, including shuttle buses from Long Island into Queens and additional subway service, after negotiations between the MTA and rail unions broke down this weekend, prompting workers to walk off the job and shutting down the railroad Saturday.

“Let’s face the facts: It’s impossible to fully replace LIRR service,” Hochul told reporters at a news conference Sunday.

The strike — the LIRR’s first in roughly 30 years — has halted service on the nation’s busiest commuter rail system, which carries hundreds of thousands of riders between Long Island and New York City.

The LIRR union coalition was back at the bargaining table with MTA and LIRR management Sunday evening, the unions announced on Facebook.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on X that LIRR service remains suspended as negotiations continue, and the city is preparing for travel disruptions.

Shuttle buses for essential workers were set begin operating at about 4:30 a.m. Monday from six locations across Nassau and Suffolk counties to subway connections in Queens.

Officials repeatedly urged commuters who are able to work remotely to stay home during the strike.

At a picket line outside Penn Station in Manhattan on Sunday, union members were resolute.

Eric Martin, a locomotive engineer who has been with his union for 24 years, said they’re fighting “to keep a fair wage for ourselves, for our family, and our friends.”

“It might take a couple of days, but the end result is we will come to a resolution,” he said. “If we have to stand out here two weeks, two months, we will do what is necessary to make it happen.”

Jim Louis, the national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainman, said he’s hopeful.

“Our coalitions — we have five unions here — they are very strong,” he said. “The only way that we can get an agreement is for the MTA to understand that all our membership is asking for is to just try to keep their heads above water with the standard of living.”

Michael Sanchez, an assistant national representative with the Transportation Communications Union (TCU), estimated 100 people were striking outside Penn Station on Sunday, in addition to about 2,000 picketing throughout MTA properties on the LIRR.

Speaking to the thousands of riders who will be impacted Monday he said: “We’re here for our friends, but also for yourself, because we deliver a high-quality product in our skill set and the service that we provide for the Long Island Railroad. And to be able to maintain that, we have to maintain real wages to hire top-shelf people to keep providing an excellent service.”

MTA officials have blamed union leadership for walking away from negotiations, saying the transit agency remained willing to continue bargaining.

“We made it clear we are available if they want to come back and negotiate,” MTA CEO Janno Lieber said. “They walked out and they went on strike.”

The coalition of unions representing roughly 3,500 Long Island Rail Road workers accused Lieber and MTA leadership of forcing a shutdown by refusing to agree to wage increases after years without raises amid rising living costs.

In a statement Sunday, the unions said the two sides were separated by less than 1 percentage point before talks broke down Friday night and argued the strike was “completely avoidable.”

“Long Island Rail Road workers want to be doing what they’ve always done — serving the riding public and keeping LIRR moving safely and efficiently,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “But after years without raises and with the cost of living continuing to climb across Long Island and the New York City area, workers deserve a fair contract that recognizes their contributions and sacrifices. This strike was completely avoidable, and the coalition remains ready to negotiate at any time if MTA leadership is finally prepared to bargain seriously.”

The unions pointed to recommendations from two presidential emergency boards that they said backed stronger wage increases for workers.

Hochul defended the MTA’s position Sunday, saying the agency could not agree to labor demands that would force steep fare hikes and higher taxes.

“New York is a pro-labor state,” Hochul said. “We believe in working men and women receiving a fair wage and benefits, but the MTA cannot agree to a contract that would raise fares as much as 8% and risk hiking taxes for Long Islanders.”

Video released Sunday by airport officials shows the moment a Frontier passenger jet struck a person on a Denver International Airport runway.

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The black-and-white security video shows a figure approaching a runway and starting to cross it, seemingly at walking pace, when the aircraft streaks into view. The narrow-body Airbus A321 sweeps in from the left as the person vanishes and one of the plane’s engines catches fire.

The collision happened at 11:19 p.m. Friday local time as the Frontier aircraft appeared to be moving rapidly down the runway en route to takeoff for a scheduled flight to Los Angeles International Airport, Denver International Airport said.

The city and county of Denver’s Aviation Department released the video upon a public records request.

Frontier said smoke entered the aircraft’s cabin as the flight was aborted. The plane was carrying 224 passengers and seven crewmembers.

Passenger Nikil Thalanki told NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver that he felt the aircraft begin to lift for takeoff when the collision took place.

“We immediately came back down, and there was fire on the engine,” he said. “Smoke filled the cabin, completely. It was super hard to breathe.”

Those on board were evacuated on inflatable evacuation slides, Thalanki said. The airport said 12 people reported minor injuries, with five ending up at hospitals.

The airport said it will review security along its roughly 36 miles of perimeter fencing.

In a statement Sunday, airport CEO Phil Washington characterized the person who was killed as a trespasser. Airport officials said the person did not appear to be an employee of the facility.

Ryann Money, a spokesperson for the Denver Medical Examiner’s Office, said by email that the person’s name, as well as the cause and manner of death, will be released to the public “once our investigation is complete and next of kin have been notified.”

A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering information about the collision. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was investigating.

Sri Lanka on Friday night repatriated the remains of 84 Iranian sailors who perished when their frigate was sunk nine days ago by a US submarine, local officials said.

The seamen were killed when the IRIS Dena was torpedoed on March 4 just off the coast of Sri Lanka, in an incident that extended the Middle East war to the Indian Ocean.

An Airbus A340 chartered by Iran “left a short while ago carrying the remains of the sailors,” an airport official at Mattala International Airport in the island’s south told AFP by telephone.

“The departure was delayed because 84 sealed boxes had to be loaded,” added the official who requested anonymity.

The destination of the flight was not disclosed.

The 32 sailors from the frigate who were rescued following the attack will remain in Sri Lanka for the time being, the Foreign Ministry said.

Of them, 22 have been discharged from the hospital and are being held at an air force base in the south of the island.

A second Iranian warship, the IRIS Bushehr, was allowed into Sri Lankan waters a day after Dena was sunk. Sri Lanka is providing safe harbour for the ship and its crew of 219.

Sri Lankan officials said they have not begun discussions on repatriating the Bushehr crew and those rescued from the Dena, but vowed that the sailors will be treated in line with Colombo’s international obligations.

Sri Lanka is currently hosting a total of 251 Iranian sailors.

– ‘Humanitarian considerations’ –

Crewmembers from the Bushehr are held at a navy camp just north of Colombo, while their ship has been taken over by Sri Lanka’s navy, which is trying to repair one of the two engines that were reportedly malfunctioning.

A third Iranian ship, IRIS Lavan, sailed past Sri Lanka and entered safe harbour in India’s southern port of Kochi on the same day the Dena was sunk. Lavan’s 183 crewmembers are in Indian custody.

Both Colombo and New Delhi have said they provided shelter to the Iranian sailors due to “humanitarian considerations” amid fears that they too could be killed in US attacks.

The ships had been taking part in a naval exercise organised by India off the coast of Visakhapatnam when the US and Israel began bombing Iran.

A local undertaker said the embalmed remains of the Iranian sailors were being sent back in sealed boxes.

The bodies, which were recovered from the Indian Ocean, were taken to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, where autopsies were carried out.

A local magistrate ordered that the bodies be handed over to the Iranian embassy in Colombo for repatriation to the next of kin.

Source: AFP

–Agencies

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced that a 48-hour island-wide token strike will be carried out in hospitals from 8.00 a.m. today (23).

According to the association, the trade union action is being launched due to the failure of the Ministry of Health to implement an agreement aimed at resolving issues related to the free health service and the concerns of medical officers.

However, the GMOA emphasized that the strike will not be carried out at maternity and children’s hospitals, kidney hospitals, and cancer hospitals.

Editor’s note: Please click here for updated coverage of the NYSNA strike on Jan. 12, 2026. 

The potential for a major nurses strike in New York City is growing by the minute, after major hospitals and the New York State Nurses Association failed to negotiate a deal before Sunday’s midnight deadline.

As a result, nearly 15,000 nurses could walk off the job Monday at Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, unless something happens during the overnight hours and an agreement is reached.

The union said Sunday at a news conference that a strike would begin Monday at 6 a.m. at Mount Sinai and 7 a.m. at other facilities without a new contract.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged the potential strike Sunday evening, posting a message on social media that reads, in part, “We are prepared for any and all scenarios, including a strike … No New Yorker should have to fear losing access to health care — and no nurse should be asked to accept less pay, fewer benefits or less dignity for doing lifesaving work.”

Key issues for the union

Leaders for NYSNA have said key sticking points in contract negotiations with Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian involve wage increases, health benefits, protection from workplace violence, and safe staffing and patient safety.

“Instead of guaranteeing health care for nurses, these wealthy hospitals are pushing to cut health benefits for nurses who put their own health on the line to care for New Yorkers,” Nancy Hagans, president of NYSNA, said on Saturday. 

In a joint statement, the hospitals called the potential strike “reckless” and asked union leadership to reconsider. 

“NYSNA leadership has chosen to abandon patients in their time of need, but Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian will not. Their decision to walk out on our patients can only be described as reckless,” the hospitals said.

A strike could last weeks, hospital says

Montefiore said it was preparing for what could be a multi-week strike, while Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian said they’re ready to safely care for patients if a strike occurs.

“Patients should not delay going to the hospital if they need care, while we are on strike,” Hagans said.

“NYSNA leadership’s reckless and irresponsible demands totaling $3.6 billion, including a nearly 40% wage increase, clearly put patients at risk; we are resolute in devoting whatever resources are necessary to safe and seamless care for our community,” Joe Solmonese, Montefiore’s senior VP of strategic communications, said in a statement last week.

Some hospitals in the area have already reached a deal with NYSNA, including all of Northwell Health facilities in Nassau County, while others pulled back their strike notices.

“Northwell Health is pleased to have reached tentative agreements with NYSNA … at Huntington, Plainview and Syosset hospitals. From the start of negotiations, our goal has been to reach a fair contract that supports our valued nurses and upholds the high standard of care our patients and community trust,” a statement from Northwell said. 

Hochul signs executive order

In a video posted Friday on social media, Gov. Kathy Hochul encouraged both sides to remain at the bargaining table and strike a deal. The governor also signed an executive order for the Department of Health to ensure hospital contingency plans in the event of a strike. She later released the following statement: 

“My team and I have been in regular communication with both NYSNA and hospital leadership for weeks, and that work has led to real progress. Eleven hospital systems have either reached agreements or agreed not to proceed with strikes at this time,” Hochul said.

“While negotiations will continue, we expect strikes to begin tomorrow at three hospital systems in Manhattan and the Bronx. If strikes move forward, the Department of Health will have staff on site at all affected hospitals beginning tomorrow morning and for the duration of the strike to ensure patient safety and continuity of care.

“My top priority is protecting patients and ensuring they can access the care they need. At the same time, we must reach an agreement that recognizes the essential work nurses do every day on the front lines of our healthcare system.

“This weekend, I signed a two-week Executive Order allowing hospital systems to access resources to maintain patient care.

“I continue to urge both sides to remain at the table and reach an agreement as soon as possible.”

Public supportive of nurses’ demands — to a point

Some New Yorkers who spoke to CBS News New York said they are are supportive, but others worry about what a work stoppage would mean for patients.

“A strike is a last resort. So when it comes down to decisions to strike, that’s a big deal and the public should be paying attention to that and realizing that we depend on health care workers,” said Kaidee Akullo, who was visiting New York City from Philadelphia.

“I would say I support their decision to fight for what they deserve, but not at the cost of lives,” an Upper West Side resident said.

“I hope they settle the contract because they deserve it. They’re hard workers,” one person said.

“We shouldn’t have the strike. It’s in the interest of everyone,” Harminder Bhatia said.

“The nurses have every right to strike, and they should be striking because they’re overworked and underpaid,” a woman added.

The largest nurses strike in New York City history has started after negotiators for five major hospitals and the state nurses union failed to agree to a new contract by Monday’s deadline. 

The New York State Nurses Association said nearly 15,000 nurses are now walking off their jobs at five privately-run hospitals: Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West, Montifiore Einstein and NewYork-Presbyterian. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the strike amid worries it could jeopardize critical care for thousands of patients in the city.     

NYSNA said nurses at Mount Sinai started the strike at 6 a.m., while nurses at the remaining hospitals started picketing an hour later.

The union said it will provide another update during a news conference Monday morning.

What’s holding up negotiations

Both sides bargained throughout the weekend, but were unable to make a deal.

NYSNA has accused Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian of putting profits over safe patient care.

The union said the wealthiest hospital systems in the city are refusing to compromise on issues like pay raises, safe staffing levels, full health care coverage, pensions and workplace protections against violence.

“Instead of guaranteeing health care for nurses, these wealthy hospitals are pushing to cut health benefits for nurses who put their own health on the line to care for New Yorkers,” Nancy Hagans, president of NYSNA, said on Saturday.

A statement from Montefiore called some of the demands “reckless and irresponsible.” 

The hospitals all called the strike “reckless” in a joint statement accusing the nurses of abandoning patients. 

“NYSNA leadership has chosen to abandon patients in their time of need, but Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian will not. Their decision to walk out on our patients can only be described as reckless,” the hospitals said.

Some hospitals in the area were able to reach a deal with NYSNA, including all of Northwell Health facilities in Nassau County, while others previously pulled back their strike notices.   

What the strike means for patients

Gov. Hochul last week signed executive orders to ensure the State Department of Health has staff at the impacted hospitals for the duration of the New York City nurses strike, ensuring patient safety and continuity of care.   

Hospital officials said no one should delay treatment or put off appointments, but patients should be alert for any direct updates from their health care providers. 

NYSNA also said patients should continue to seek care, with leaders at a news conference Sunday saying going to get care is not crossing a strike line. 

The bottom line for patients is that the hospitals will remain open and care will continue during the strike. 

Mamdani on nurses strike

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged the impending strike Sunday night in a post on X. It read:

The safety and wellbeing of this city is my top priority and ensuring New Yorkers have the care they need is critical, especially during flu season.

The city’s Emergency Management team, FDNY, health department, public hospital system, and my senior leadership team are in constant communication and closely monitoring the situation. We are prepared for any and all scenarios, including a strike.

No New Yorker should have to fear losing access to health care — and no nurse should be asked to accept less pay, fewer benefits or less dignity for doing lifesaving work. Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable.

I’m relieved that most hospitals have reached an agreement and urge the remaining parties to stay at the table and reach a deal that both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.