NY gubernatorial candidate Blakeman blames Hochul for LIRR strike disruptions
NY gubernatorial candidate calls out Hochul on fallout from LIRR strike
New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is criticizing Gov. Kathy Hochul’s handling of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) strike, accusing her of poor leadership. Blakeman points to the state’s financial woes and the strike’s potential cost of $60 million per day, affecting hundreds of thousands of commuters each day.
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Nassau County executive and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman on Sunday fired Gov. Kathy Hochul over the escalating strike crisis on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), accusing the Democratic governor of plunging New York into chaos as hundreds of thousands of commuters prepare for potentially major disruptions as they head into the workweek.
“The blame lies with Kathy Hochul and her lack of leadership…” Blakeman told Lisa Boothe during “Fox & Friends Weekend.” “This strike did not need to happen. He treats workers like servants. His relations with union leaders are not good.”
He compared Hochul’s handling of the labor impasse with his own approach to unions.
LONG ISLAND RAILWAY WORKERS GO ON STRIKE, LEAVING 330,000 PASSENGERS WITHOUT SERVICE ON THE USA’S BUSY RAIL LINE
New York Republican Governor candidate Bruce Blakeman (left) attends a rally to combat antisemitism in the Queens borough of New York City on May 10. ; Gov. Kathy Hochul (R), speaking at the Governor’s office in New York, announced a proposal in the state budget to add security barriers around places where people gather to pray and impose a tax on luxury second homes in New York City valued at $5 million or more. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images; Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
He suggested that the difference comes from leadership and respect for workers.
“I bargain hard with our employees, but I always reach a mutual agreement because I am protecting the families of our workers here in New York state,” Blakeman said.
His remarks came after five unions representing about 3,700 workers, including ticket clerks, locomotive engineers, signalmen, electricians and machinists, walked out on Saturday in the fourth strike in the railway line’s history.
NYC HOSPITAL ACCUSES NURSES UNION OF WANTING PROTECTION FOR WORKERS WHO ARRIVED HIGH, DRUNK WHEN THE STRIKE BEGIN
New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the Long Island Rail Road strike “reckless” and “unacceptable.” (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
In a statement, the LIRR confirmed that service was suspended until further notice and encouraged passengers to avoid unnecessary travel and work from home if possible.
“Our weekday shuttle bus service will be limited for essential workers and those who cannot work from home,” the railroad said.
Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said no new negotiations were planned.
“We are very far apart at this point,” Sexton said. “We are truly sorry we are in this situation.”
On the road to strike, unions and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) It negotiated a new contract that included changes to working rules and a 3% annual wage increase for three years.
The dispute centered on a proposed fourth-year fare increase, with unions seeking a 5% raise for the final year, a demand the MTA said it could not meet.
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Blakeman also argued that Hochul mismanaged his relationships with all workers, pointing to other labor conflicts under Hochul’s management.
“There was a nurses’ strike and Kathy Hochul brought in workers from out of state to cross the picket lines,” he said. “We had a corrections officer strike. Kathy Hochul deployed National Guard troops to break that strike.”
“And now we have the first rail workers strike in 30 years,” he added.
Fox News Digital reached out to the governor’s press office and Hochul’s campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News’ Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
