What a Fine Mess You've Got Us Into, Roger

The TWU Local 100 is in deep trouble. As Newsday reported late yesterday Judge Jones socked it the union with a $2.5 million fine and the elimination of its dues check-of privileges. This, on top of Jolly Roger's ten day jail sentence, puts the Local in a precarious position.

The unanswered question is how the union's rank-and-file will respond to this draconian action. Will they blame Roger and look to replace him when elections come up later this year? Or will they perceive the union head as a victim of vicious anti-labor forces out to sabotage the labor movement?

In today's NY Post union ran-and-file appear to be ready to pony up in defense of the local but, predictably, both the Post and the NY Daily News loudly applaud the court's strict response to last year's strike. It is unfortunate that Local 100 botched the entire labor negotiation so exquisitely that the dunderheads at the MTA came out looking like heroes.