New York, NY —

A state judge in Brooklyn is hearing closing arguments today in the state's case against The Transport Workers Union.

The MTA wants to suspend the union's right to automatically deduct membership dues from workers' paychecks - as a punishment for last December's illegal 3-day transit strike. The penalty can be levied under the state's Taylor Law which bars public employees from striking. The union has argued that it would be crippled without the membership dues which are worth $20 million a year.

Speaking to reporters before the hearing got underway this afternoon, the Reverend Jesse Jackson said the union should get amnesty from any fines and that such a punishment would send an anti-labor message to other unions seeking to defend themselves.

Last week TWU local 100 president Roger Toussaint was sentenced to 10 days in jail for organizing the strike and he expects to begin serving his sentence later this month.