Hochul pushed LIRR strike to pick up votes on Long Island from GOP opponent: transit union chief
The head of the Transport Workers Union accused Governor Kathy Hochul of allowing the Long Island Rail Road strike to advance her political interests against GOP opponent Bruce Blakeman. John Samuelsen claimed the strike was strategically timed to influence voters in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. He also criticized Hochul and the MTA for appointing a controversial negotiator and ignoring federal recommendations that could have prevented the work stoppage.
- ▪John Samuelsen, head of the Transport Workers Union, accused Governor Kathy Hochul of using the LIRR strike to gain political advantage over Republican Bruce Blakeman.
- ▪Samuelsen claimed the strike was provoked to shift blame onto Blakeman and boost Hochul's support in key Long Island counties.
- ▪He criticized the MTA's hiring of Gary Dellaverson, a negotiator linked to a disruptive 2005 transit strike, as a sign of poor labor relations.
- ▪Samuelsen warned that Hochul's actions could harm Democratic candidates in the upcoming November elections.
- ▪A Hochul spokesperson dismissed the claims, stating the administration prioritized protecting riders and taxpayers while offering fair contract terms to LIRR workers.
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Metro exclusive Hochul pushed LIRR strike to pick up votes on Long Island from GOP opponent: transit union chief By Rich Calder and Craig McCarthy Published May 16, 2026, 7:10 p.m. ET Gov. Hochul pushed the Long Island Rail Road strike largely to throw shade on Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and pick up votes from the Republican gubernatorial front-runner on his home turf, the head of a top transit union told The Post. “I don’t think it’s any coincidence that she’s doing this right in his backyard,” said John Samuelsen, the International President of the Transport Workers Union.
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