[JURIST] A New York judge on Monday ordered Transport Union Workers Local 100 [official website] to pay $2.5 million in fines for illegally going on strike in December, bringing New York City's public transport system to a halt. Judge Theodore Jones also suspended automatic dues collection by the union. Jones imposed [JURIST report] a $1 million-per-day fine on the union while it was on strike, which lasted for 60 hours. Union President Roger Toussaint [profile] said the union would appeal the fine. Jones also ordered smaller fines against two other unions.

Toussaint is expected to begin serving a 10-day jail sentence [JURIST report] this week, which Jones ordered earlier this month. New York's Public Employees Fair Employment Act [text; backgrounder] prohibits state employees from going on strike. The union still has not agreed to contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority [official website]. The New York Times has local coverage [registration required]. AP has more.