Im Proud of New York!

[le pire]

WELL DONE, Transit workers! Reminds me of Paris, 96.

[zoobie]

and Johnny Damon?

[Chance]

Paris 1996? What about Paris 2005? Go, you long-ignored, under-priviledged classes, GO!

[Peter]

YES!!! transit workers, you just cost your union $3 million! Well you still have $100,000. in the bank. Plus each and every one of you loses 6 days pay. Still no contract.

Nice Christmas bonus the union gave you.

[Peter Voice]

Um, Peter.
Don't the union members give some of their money to the union to fund campaigns the members vote to undertake?
The way I read it is that the members believe their working wages and conditions are so far from ideal and they have been fobbed off for so long that nothing other than this sort of action had worked.
As an outsider looking in, the US wages and labour conditions are scarey. An Australian, British or European driver wouldn't put up with them.
The wages probably totalled more than the union's fines but the members are playing for much more. These people provide a vital public service in a volatile, even fatally dangerous environment and deserve a decent wage.
The union is acting on behalf of thousands of members who have also knowingly sacrificed wages by participating. According to the damage figures the mayor is quoting, I think the union has demonstrated the value of it's members admirably.
Considering the real value of the improved wages etc, to the members, so far I think they've run a cheap, effective campaign.
They won't go broke because other unions, aware of precedent and flow on, will provide support, with the support of their members.