Nearly half of Long Island Rail Road workers are threatening to walk off the job as early as next week — and the MTA’s plan to deal with the “looming strike” is by telling riders to work from home.

Five unions, comprising about 3,400 workers or 49% of the Long Island Railroad’s workforce, are pushing for retroactive raises that would bump their pay up 16% from 3 years ago.

MTA leaders prefer a 9.5% wage increase, or would like concessions from union members on existing work rules that “significantly inflate salaries,” according to LIRR President Rob Free. 3

“A fair offer has been made,” Free told reporters at a news conference in Penn Station Thursday. “They have to realize they need to come to the table and make concessions.”

Free advised people who take the LIRR train to work to

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