the Local 100 executive board wouldn’t have voted to go back to work unless there was already a deal they could live with in front of them. meaning, i’d assume, none of the pension givebacks, and a wage increase that at least keeps up with inflation/cost of living. the deal would certainly have included some face-saving measures for the MTA brass, which explains the delay in announcing the terms (scheduled for 6pm today – 12/27).

this scenario is all the more plausible because the 5 e-board members who voted against going back to work were the same old guard remnants who voted against striking in the first place.

the question, however, is whether the deal is good enough to satisfy the membership as well as the e-board. pretty much everyone i talked to on the Local 100 picket lines was critical of toussaint’s decision not to strike in 2002, and seemed pretty willing to vote down a contract that wasn’t close enough to what they actually want. there was a lot of vigorous debate on the lines about the direction of the local, but all of it seemed to be coming from a solid understanding of the need for militancy and the importance of striking. it was a syndicalist’s dream come true.

so the real story, i’d guess, is what happens in the ratification vote… which’ll be soon.

National Nitwit - guaranteed at least 50% truthful.

National Nitwit - guaranteed at least 50% truthful.