If A First You Don't Succeed, Vote Again. And Again.

If at first you can't succeed, vote and vote again. The first vote by the TWU Local 100 to approve the transit contract between the union and the MTA was voted down by 7 votes.

That deal died, and the MTA considers that deal off the table. The MTA wants to go to binding arbitration to resolve the contract dispute.

The union wants to avoid this at all costs, claiming that they now have the votes to approve the contract (we had heard that one before the last vote too). Some union opponents think that this stinks to high hell too, but Toussaint wants to have it done his way, even if the results are disasterous for everyone, especially the City, the taxpayers, and commuters.

"More than two-thirds of our members believe that the contract would be approved if it was re-submitted," Toussaint said. He said a vast majority of the rank and file were misled or misinformed about the terms of the contract offer.

But the MTA insists the contract has already been taken off the table, and that's where it'll stay. Toussaint is blaming the media and even himself for the situation the union is in right now.

"I always take responsibility for the outcome of things in the Transport Workers Unon," he said Sunday. "So I need to go out there and do a a better job."

Toussaint insists his members have the right to choose their own destiny.

On Friday, a majority of the Local 100 Executive Board voted to have the contract re-submitted to transit workers for a second vote. But it did not take place without controversy. Board members opposed to a re-vote said it's a slap in the face to union democracy.

"When is a no vote a no vote? How many times do we have to vote no before it's official?" said Vice President Ainsley Stewart.

Toussaint said he doesn't believe the MTA has the authority to pull the offer off the table.

The re-vote will take place prior to the April meeting of the MTA Board of Directors.

And there's one other thing. Toussaint knows that the union got off scot-free from the illegal strike, he and his union bosses weren't tossed in jail, and therefore figures that he can take as many bites from the apple as he wants.

There's no repercussions for his illegal strike, the rediculous bargaining positions taken during the negotiations, and that pro-union politicians are giving him cover to push for a revote that is foisted on the MTA despite the fact that the deal is fiscally irresponsible.

The MTA is hoping for binding arbitration will save it from itself, while the union knows that binding arbitration will never come close to the overly generous deal that the union voted down.