Golden Gate Ferry Workers Strike on May 26, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2012

Golden Gate Ferry Workers Strike for Safe Conditions and Good Jobs

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Golden Gate Ferry workers led the way toward securing safe conditions and good jobs when they struck this morning at the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. Supporters from the public and other unions joined members of the Inlandboatmen’s Union on the picket lines at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.

Terminal Assistants are fighting for their jobs as well as fair compensation for an increased work load. Last year, Golden Gate Bridge District management replaced all human ticket agents with ticket machines. Management is now threatening to replace ferry terminal assistants with metal ramps. The Terminal Assistants voted unanimously to go on strike over the recent elimination of the ticket agents and the impact it has on them every day.

“Since they laid off the ticket agents, our work has quadrupled. We don’t want management to lay us off too. Everyone knows it’s better to have a human being helping passengers than a machine,” said Rene Alvarado, terminal assistant at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal and member of the Inlandboatmen’s Union (IBU).

Update to Golden Gate Ferry Strike on May Day 2012

IJ video/Alan Dep

Protesters supported the Inlandboatmen’s Union strike at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal on May 1, 2012.

Related articles:

• Marin Independent Journal
• San Francisco Chronicle
• The Sacramento Bee
• Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation Department announcement

Photo credit: Allan G. Smorra

Strike at Golden Gate Ferry

Photo credit: Allan G. Smorra

Today was another day of action for Golden Gate Bridge, Bus, and Ferry workers as members of 19 Unions joined the Inland Boatmen’s Union as they had a one-day strike at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. At issue is a new contract and a fight to keep healthcare affordable for current employees and retirees.

The Union Coalition has offered concessions worth $2 million dollars and has been told by management that the District’s financial needs have been met. The District is insisting on principle, not on economic need, that Union members should be forced into a healthcare premium sharing plan that unfairly burdens families with the highest cost. The District is also insisting on reducing retiree vested healthcare benefits.

Last July non-union employees received a pay raise and union employees were told that they would not receive the raise or back pay if they did not accept the District offer by the end of June 2011.

Stay tuned for updates to this ongoing story.