Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition updates. No more bridge rally, pickets instead.

Support Golden Gate Ferry Worker's May Day Strike and Picket Lines!

All Bridge Workers Mobilizing to Ferry Terminals. Continue Request for Community Support for May Day Strike Actions!

7am Rally at Golden Gate Bridge CANCELED, unions are mobilizing towards supporting picketing locations at Bay Area Ferry terminals.

http://occupythebridge.org/

Ferry workers at the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District will be going on strike on May Day. The strike will shut down morning ferry service and we are asking for your solidarity and support in our struggle. “We have been negotiating in good faith for one year now. The district says they appreciate workers, but they have shown no appreciation at the bargaining table. We deserve a fair contract and healthcare for our families and retirees.” said Rene Alvarado, ferry terminal assistant and member of the Inlandboatmen’s Union.

Buses to and from Picket Locations:

6am SF City Hall Pickup (Returning at 12noon Montgomery and Market)

6am Oakland 19th and Telegraph Pickup (Returning at 12noon Oscar Grant
Plaza 14th and Broadway)

Picket Locations Are As Follows:

5:30am Larkspur Ferry Terminal; 101 East Sr. Francis Drake Blvd; Larkspur

5:30am Behind San Francisco Ferry Terminal; Market St. and Embarcadero; San Francisco

5:30am Sausalito Ferry Terminal; Humbolt and Anchor; Sausalito

7am: Bike the Strike & May Day Critical Mass: The first ride will meet at 16th st and Mission st Bart station and depart at 7am. This will be a solidarity ride with the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition Mass Action and a long list of others.

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Over the past year over 380 workers from 19 unions have been in tense negotiations with the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. The coalition of unions includes workers from the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Bus service as well as the Golden Gate Ferry. When the workers current contract expired in July of 2011 the District gave all the non union employees a raise thereby punishing union members for exercising their right to collectively bargain.

Negotiations have stalled because the Bridge Board of Directors is currently taking an ideological position against providing quality affordable healthcare for workers with families. The Board is also trying to reduce the vested healthcare benefits for current retirees. Over the last few months the unions have been escalating their actions in order to push the Bridge Board to do the right thing by providing affordable healthcare for their employees. They have thus far refused to budge.

Therefore on May 1st, International Workers Day, The Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition is calling for a mass rally at the Golden Gate Bridge in order to unite with community members, other unions and the Occupy movement to show the Bridge Board that we are willing to stand up for our families, our healthcare and our jobs.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, so this May Day we honor the struggles of the generations of bridge workers who have fought hard for safe working conditions, fair wages and healthcare benefits for all working people. We look forward to standing in solidarity with you on May Day ! An Injury to One is an Injury to All!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2012

Golden Gate Ferry Workers Strike on May Day

Second Bridge, Bus, and Ferry Union to Announce May 2 Strike at Larkspur Ferry Terminal Picket Line

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Ferry workers at the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District will be going on strike on May Day. The strike will shut down morning ferry service. The Labor Coalition has offered concessions worth $2,109,350 million each year. Although Golden Gate Bridge District management has acknowledged that the financial needs of the district have been met, they are still seeking to push rising healthcare costs onto workers and their families and replacing people with machines.

A second bridge, bus, and ferry union will announce that it is going on strike on Wednesday, May 2. "The last thing that bridge, bus, and ferry workers want to do is to inconvenience passengers, but what other option has management left us? For generations, workers have fought together to win healthcare and good jobs and to retire with dignity. When we stand alone, we are easily divided. But when workers, families, and communities, stand together, we can create a tide that lifts all boats," said Alex Tonisson, Organizer and Co-Chair of the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition.

Who: Golden Gate Bridge, Bus, and Ferry Workers

What: Ferry workers at the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District announced are going on strike on May Day. A second Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition Union will be announcing a May 2 strike at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal picket line.

When: 7am Press Conference, May 1st, 2012

Where: Larkspur Ferry Terminal, 101 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Larkspur, California

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The Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition is made up of over 380 bridge, bus, and ferry workers who help San Francisco commuters get to work safely each day. Bridge, bus, and ferry workers belong to 14 unions including the Inlandboatmen’s Union, MEBA D-1, Operating Engineers, Teamsters #665, Machinists, Ironworkers, Laborers, Electricians, Plumbers, Carpenters, Cement Masons, IFPTE Local21, Transport Workers, Teamsters #856.