Comments on: NYC transit strike

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 15:33:22 +0000

Does the criminal action of the members of this union open them up to civil damage awards from corporations and individuals that are affected by their criminal actions? Can city businesses sue them over lost labor hours?

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 12:14:27 +0000

Now that the strike is over, one wonders whether these fines will ever be imposed. Unions seem to think that all will be forgiven when they go back to work.

Where are the obnoxious plaintiff lawyers when we actually need them? Businesses in the City suffered real damages and a civil RICO class action against the union might have gotten them back to work a day sooner or at least might set a precedent for public employee’s next strike.

By: PointOfLaw Forum

PointOfLaw Forum — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 05:32:48 +0000

An opportunity for Spitzer

New York Attorney General/Aspiring Governor Eliot Spitzer has been infamous for filing lawsuits on subjects normally under the jurisdiction of the SEC or FDA or other federal regulatory agencies through aggressive prosecutions under aggressive and over…

By: Ted

Ted — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 16:08:18 +0000

"The 33,000 members of Transport Workers Union Local 100 deserve a 'very potent fine' for their 3:00 a.m. walkout, said James Henly of the state attorney general's office, representing the MTA" at an 11 am hearing. WABC). First reports are that the fine will be $1 million/day, which translates to $30/striker/day. Not much of a disincentive to an illegal strike compared to the 16% gap between the parties. It's not clear whether the judge ruled against larger damages or deferred Kalikow's request for $22 million/day.

By: DF

DF — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 10:33:54 +0000

I’m no fan of Spitzer but I’m not so convinced he won’t.

Bloomberg news today:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aWpR6TBnXjy8&refer=us

“Peter S. Kalikow, the chairman of the MTA, the parent agency for the city’s transit authority, said he and New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer would go into state court today to seek a contempt citation against the union and its 33,700 members. Transit employees risk losing two days’ pay for every day of work they miss, under provisions of the Taylor Law.”