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Kathy Hochul and Bruce Blakeman must BOTH stand up to the union thugs threatening an LIRR strike

Nypost · · 509 words · By Post Editorial Board
Labor Negotiations/Strikes Political accountability
open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/27/opinion/kathy-hochul-and-bruce-blakeman-must-both-…

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
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Name Calling / Labeling 85% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
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Straw Man 70% confidence
Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.
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Guilt by Association 65% confidence
Discrediting an idea by linking it to a disliked group or person.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

13 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 6
schedule Pending 3
check_circle Corroborated 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
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“Five privileged LIRR unions are aiming to hold the metro region hostage: If the MTA refuses to pay the ransom — a steep wage hike — they’ll strike, possibly as soon as May 16.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that the five LIRR unions are involved in contract negotiations with the MTA regarding wage increases and potential strikes. One source mentions a potential strike deadline near May 16th, and another notes the unions are seeking a significant increase for a fourth year.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Grand Central Madison – also known as the Madison Concourse or simply Grand Central – is a commuter rail terminal for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in the Midtown East neighborhood of Manhattan, in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Central_Madison
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Long Beach Branch is an electrified rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch begins at Valley Interlocking, just east of Vall…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Beach_Branch
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Main Line is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. It begins as a two-track line at Long Island City station in Long Island City, Queens, and r…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Line_(Long_Island_Rail_Ro…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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““We’re talking about a complete and total shutdown,” the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s Kevin Sexton threatened this month.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results directly quote Kevin Sexton, a vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, making statements about a 'complete and total shutdown' and the ticking clock regarding the strike.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Railroads played a large role in the development of the United States from the Industrial Revolution in the Northeast (1820s–1850s) to the settlement of the West (1850s–1890s). The American railroad m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transportation…
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web search NEUTRAL — “We’re talking about a complete and total shutdown,” said Kevin Sexton, a vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, one of the unions ready to strike. He added, “The cloc…
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/nyregion/lirr-strike-long…
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web search NEUTRAL — Kevin J. Sexton is National Vice President of the 51,500-member Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), a Division of the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters…
https://ble-t.org/kevin-sexton/
+ 1 more evidence source
info
“The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’s Jeff Klein warned not to underestimate the unions’ resolve: “Our memberships are prepared to do what’s necessary,” even if it means a long, crippling strike.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the evidence confirms the existence of the IBEW and its members' involvement in labor disputes, the specific quote attributed to Jeff Klein warning of a 'long, crippling strike' is not directly corroborated by multiple independent sources. The web search results provide general information about IBEW strikes but do not confirm this specific warning from Jeff Klein.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2024 New York's 3rd congressional district special election was held on February 13, 2024, to fill the vacant seat in New York's 3rd congressional district for the remainder of the 118th United St…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_New_York's_3rd_congressio…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon were held on November 5, 2024, to elect the six U.S. representatives from the state of Oregon, one from each of the state's congress…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_House_of_Re…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, to elect the 41st governor of Minnesota, as incumbent Democratic (DFL) Governor Mark Dayton chose not to run for re-election for a t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Minnesota_gubernatorial_e…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“LIRR salaries already top those of most railroads in the country, averaging $136,000 among the five holdouts in 2024, per MTA figures.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim cites 'MTA figures' regarding an average salary of $136,000 in 2024. While the web search results discuss LIRR negotiations, none of the provided evidence sources contain the specific figure of '$136,000' or confirm that MTA figures state this average for 2024.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — East Side Access (ESA) is a public works project in New York City that extended the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) two miles from its Main Line in Queens to the new Grand Central Madison station under G…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Side_Access
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Flushing–Main Street is a station on the Long Island Rail Road's Port Washington Branch in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, New York City. The station is located at Main Street and 41st Avenue, of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flushing–Main_Street_station_(…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Long Island Rail Road (reporting mark LI), or LIRR, is a railroad in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of New York, stretching from Manhattan to the eastern tip of Suffolk County on Long Isl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island_Rail_Road
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“True, they’ve reportedly agreed to what about 80% of the agency’s other unions have accepted: raises of 3%, 3% and 3.5% for the past three years.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results mention that the MTA proposed raises of 3% in the first and second years, and 3.5% in the third year, which were terms accepted by 'several other MTA unions.' However, the evidence does not provide independent confirmation or source attribution for the claim that this specific package (3%, 3%, 3.5%) represents what 'approximately 80% of the agency’s other unions' agreed to.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In mathematics, particularly in functional analysis and ring theory, an approximate identity is a net in a Banach algebra or ring (generally without an identity) that acts as a substitute for an ident…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approximate_identity
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — An approximation is anything that is intentionally similar but not exactly equal to something else.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approximation
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In computational learning theory, probably approximately correct (PAC) learning is a framework for mathematical analysis of machine learning. It was proposed in 1984 by Leslie Valiant. In this framewo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probably_approximately_correct…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Yet unlike the other unions, these five holdouts are demanding the contract cover a fourth year as well, with an outrageous, bank-busting bump of 5%.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results indicate that the MTA proposed a three-year contract with specific raises (3%, 3%, 3.5%) accepted by other unions. The evidence does not contain independent confirmation or source material detailing that the five holdout unions are specifically demanding a fourth year with an 'outrageous, bank-busting bump of 5%' compared to the other unions.
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web search NEUTRAL — The MTA wants the organizations to accept a three-year contract with 3% raises in the first and second years, and a 3.5% raise in the third year — the same terms accepted by several other MTA unions, …
https://www.wliw.org/radio/captivate-podcast/trump-administr…
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web search NEUTRAL — A legislative analysis of this year's ratified agreements between the state and the other bargaining units indicates that only one union besides the scientists is scheduled to receive a pay ...
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-wo…
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web search NEUTRAL — The California State University marked the end of contract negotiations with the California Faculty Association and gave its last, best offer; a 5% raise effective Jan. 31 for all instructional ...
https://www.times-standard.com/2024/01/09/csu-offers-5-raise…
info
“To avoid a strike, the agency generously offered pay hikes of 4.5% in the fourth year, but the unions would have to agree to fix some perverse work rules to produce savings.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence does not contain any information regarding the MTA offering a 4.5% pay hike contingent upon the unions agreeing to fix specific work rules to generate savings. The web search results are unrelated to this specific negotiation detail.
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web search NEUTRAL — If you have a air conditioner remote that is not working or missing then all you have to to is this. Buy a universal remote for around $5-10.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3ni_USF5Ps
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web search NEUTRAL — The province offered a pay increase equivalent to 4.0 per cent over two years, Finch said. The union countered with a 4.0 per cent increase in the first year and a 4.25 per cent increase in the second…
https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/bc-public-sector-wo…
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web search NEUTRAL — Generate high-fidelity images and videos from scratch, or transform visuals into entirely new concepts. Iterate with control. Seamlessly swap objects, extend scenes, and direct camera movement to matc…
https://labs.google/flow/about
info
“Under one rule, for example, an engineer who operates a diesel train and an electric train on the same day must be paid for two days.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One web search result describes a scenario where an engineer operates both diesel and electric equipment, which aligns with the claim. However, the evidence does not provide corroboration from a second independent source detailing this specific 'two days pay' rule.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Description: An engineer operates both diesel and electric equipment during a single tour of duty. Example: An engineer begins his day operating a diesel locomotive, but it malfunctions.
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/a-look-at-lirr-union-wor…
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web search NEUTRAL — Before beginning each day's work or trip, crew members and any others whose duties require, must review general orders that apply to the territory they will work on.Employees must each have a current …
https://www.up.com/ert/gcor.pdf
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web search NEUTRAL — § 217.1 Purpose. Through the requirements of this part, the Federal Railroad Administration learns the condition of operating rules and practices with respect to trains and other rolling equipment in …
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-II/…
help
“And he’d be owed a third day’s pay if he drove passengers but later took a train to a yard.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references to support the claim that an engineer who drives passengers and then takes a train to a yard is owed a third day's pay.
help
“To her credit, Hochul so far hasn’t backed the unions’ extortion schemes.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references to support the claim that Kathy Hochul has not supported the unions' demands.
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“Plus, Blakeman stunningly appears to be giving Hochul cover — by nudging her to surrender to the unions.”
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“The Nassau Country exec urged the gov to “advance” the non-binding recommendations of two Presidential Emergency Boards, which essentially sided with them.”
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“Recall that he also backed a ridiculous, costly pro-Transport Workers Union bill requiring two operators on every subway train, and hinted about backing pension sweeteners, too.”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.