Transit Workers Endorse Edwards

NEW YORK _ Democratic presidential contender John Edwards Thursday accepted the endorsement of the 200,000-member Transport Workers Union of America, but he refused to say whether public employees should be able to strike without severe penalties.

The union’s local transit workers violated state law when they shut down the city’s subways and buses during the height of the 2005 holiday season, enraging New Yorkers and prompting Mayor Michael Bloomberg to accuse the union’s leaders of “thuggishly” turning their backs on the city.

The TWU was fined $2.5 million.

Asked by reporters Thursday whether public employees should be allowed to strike, Edwards dodged the question.

“I believe we need to change the law in America to make it easier for workers to be able to organize themselves into unions,” Edwards punted. “I think we need to strengthen the collective-bargaining process.”

When pressed again, Edwards said, “I stand by my answer.”

Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton’s, D-N.Y., campaign refused to say if she opposed public employee walkouts, while Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said only that he opposes public safety worker strikes.

Edwards has cast himself as the pro-union contender, and recently won endorsements from the carpenters, the steelworkers and the mine workers, bringing his union support to more than 2 million _ the most of any candidate.

Roger Toussaint, president of the local union who served jail time for leading the strike, said Edwards gives labor and working America “its best shot.”

Clinton countered Thursday with an endorsement of the 65,000-member Transportation Communications Union.

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