News

NEW YORK, NY April 28, 2006 —Transport Workers Union Local 100 president Roger Toussaint was released from jail in Lower Manhattan this morning to the cheers of union members, after serving half of his 10-day sentence. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

REPORTER: Toussaint thanked correction officers for treating him with dignity and respect. But he had harsh words for the judge, the MTA and the state's Taylor Law that punishes public employees for striking.

TOUSSAINT: Pensions and health benefits need to be defended and no amount of penalties and threats and jails will make those fundamental issues go away.

REPORTER: The Transport Worker Union still has to pay $2.5 million in fines for the December transit strike. It's also still without a contract. A state panel has ordered binding arbitration. The MTA refuses to offer the union the same deal that was rejected in January, but then approved on a revote.