LIRR strike deadline nears as MTA and unions continue talks

LIRR workers and the MTA are heading back to the bargaining table as a Saturday strike deadline approaches. The dispute centers on pay, with unions seeking a 5% raise in the fourth year of the contract while the MTA has offered 3%. A strike could shut down LIRR service and impact more than 300,000 daily commuters. Transit officials say a contingency plan would include limited peak-hour bus service from select Long Island stations to Queens, where riders would need to connect to the subway.