About a half dozen Transport Workers Union Local 100 employees camped out under a tent and tarps in solidarity with [union leader] Toussaint, who is serving a 10-day sentence for ordering the illegal 60-hour subway and bus strike last December.

"He's going to jail for us and I think the symbolism is he's not doing this alone," said John Wilson, a subway track worker for the past 21 years. Wilson, on leave from his regular subway duties, pulled the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. shift.

"This ain't no [expletive] jail, I've been here before," shouted one angry man as he walked by. "It's a hotel. They should send him to Rikers."

On Monday night, the Rev. Al Sharpton kept his word and spent the night on a portable mattress with Toussaint supporters. One fellow camper said he had a personal assistant to escort him to the bathroom.