Jail awaits N.Y. transit union leaders

New York's buses and subways were idle again Thursday, with a judge threatening to jail union leaders over the illegal strike that is crippling the city.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg confirmd a lawsuit would be filed against Workers Union Local 100, to be heard by State Justice Theodore Jones.

Wednesday, when the top three TWU executives failed to show up for court with regard to an injunction by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Jones threatened that jail time for the union chiefs was possible, and refused to proceed until the defendants were present.

More than 30,000 transit workers walked off the job Tuesday, stranding some 7 million people who rely on the system each weekday.

Union members are seeking pay raises, improved health plans and a stronger pension fund, which its leaders claim faces a $1 billion shortfall.

The union faces a fine of $1 million per day of the strike, and the city announced that workers will lose three days of pay for every day they didn't work, UPI reports.

Photo: the AP

V.Y.