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(1010 WINS) (NEW YORK) The union that crippled New York City's transit system last month with a three-day strike has rejected its contract.

The union that crippled New York City's transit system last month with a three-day strike finished voting Friday on the contract deal that ended the walkout.

The results of the vote are scheduled to be announced Friday afternoon.

Members of the Transport Workers Union have until noon to cast a ballot for or against ratification. The results of the referendum are expected to be available to union leaders almost immediately and are likely be announced publicly later in the day.

TWU Local 100 President Roger Toussaint, who persuaded more than 33,000 subway and bus workers to walk off the job in December, has campaigned for a "yes'' vote.

A small faction of union dissenters has opposed it, arguing it makes too many concessions to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

If approved, the contract would go before the MTA's governing board next Wednesday for a second ratification vote.

A final resolution may also hinge on action by state lawmakers, who will be asked to make legal changes necessary to give transit workers a $110 million refund of pension plan contributions.

Aides to Gov. George Pataki had indicated in late December that he was displeased with that aspect of the deal and might veto the legislation, but the MTA has also agreed to pick up the cost of the refunds if the bill fails.

A state judge in Brooklyn also has yet to decide how much of a penalty union leaders and members will face for participating in the strike, which was barred by state law.

Local 100 has already been fined $3 million for the walkout. Penalties have yet to be set for Toussaint and other union chiefs. The city has also sued to recover economic damages related to the strike, which came at the height of the holiday shopping season.

5 posted on 01/20/2006 12:09:34 PM PST by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers, Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason!)
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To: areafiftyone
Good for the TWU. There was no reason for them to accept a contract that was no different than what the MTA offered before the strike.

More than anything else, this is a thorough repudiation of the union's own leadership. I'm thinking that by next summer Roger Toussaint is going to be living in Trinidad, Haiti, New Orleans, or wherever the hell he came from.

41 posted on 01/20/2006 12:54:19 PM PST by Alberta's Child (Said the night wind to the little lamb . . . "Do you see what I see?")
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