Emergency Hearing: MTA vs. TWU

(New York- WABC, December 20, 2005) (WABC) -- The MTA and the transit union are going to return to court at 11 a.m. this morning following an emergency hearing, where a judge ordered the union to stop striking.

Eyewitness News has learned State Supreme Court Justice Theodore Jones in Brooklyn scheduled the 11 a.m. criminal contempt hearing against the Transport Workers Union after MTA requested a hearing as soon as possible. "We must bring this illegal strike to a halt immediately to preserve the safety of the city," said Michael Cardozo of the city's Corporation Council.

During the rare 4:30 a.m. hearing this morning, Justice Jones also signed a temporary restraining order, ordering the union to immediately stop striking. "The judge issued a temporary restraining order, basically saying, 'I told you not to strike, now I'm telling you to stop striking,'" Cardoza said.

Cardoza said the city would be seeking "substantial fines" against workers. "We are very pleased that the judge has recognized the urgency of the city, said Michael Cordoza.

Cordoza said city businesses will today lose $400 million, and the city itself will lose more than $20 million, because of the strike.

Union lawyers argued that they need more time to prepare their defense, but the judge sided with the MTA. Workers already face stiff fines under the Taylor Law.

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