FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 1, 2012

Golden Gate Ferry Workers Lead the Way Toward Securing Healthcare and Good Jobs

Golden Gate Bus Workers Show Solidarity, Announce Plans to Strike

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Golden Gate Ferry workers led the way toward securing healthcare and good jobs when they struck the morning shift today at the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District.  Over three hundred supporters joined them at the picket lines at the Larkspur and San Francisco Ferry Terminals from 5am until 2pm.  At the San Francisco Ferry Terminal, members of Occupy San Francisco supported workers with a kayak brigade and signs that read “healthcare,” “respect,” and “99%.”

In addition to leading the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition’s fight for healthcare, ferry workers are also fighting for their jobs.  Last year, Golden Gate Bridge District management announced plans to replace ticket agents with machines.  Management is now threatening to replace ferry terminal assistants with metal ramps.

“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.

Terminal assistants are responsible for moving boats from one berth to another, helping people purchase tickets, maintaining the inside of the terminal and parking lot, and making sure that people can park when the lots are full.

At the Larkspur Ferry picket line, Golden Gate bus workers who are members of Teamsters Local 665 announced that they too will be going on strike.

“For generations, workers have fought together to win healthcare and good jobs for all of us.  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.

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 continuing their push to replace people with machines.

Hear more from about Golden Gate bridge, bus, and ferry workers’ fight for healthcare and good jobs: http://youtu.be/LMrvPaeP7WQ

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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.

My name is Kerry Davis.  I’ve been an Ironworker on the Golden Gate Bridge for the last 28 years.  I was born and raised in San Francisco.

We take care of all of the rigging, replace the bolts, the rivets – everything that goes into maintaining the structure of the bridge and make it safe for commuters.

I grew up in a union family.  My father was in the transit workers union.  I became an Ironworker at 24.

In these times, solidarity isn’t really spoken about much and people don’t know what being in a union is all about.  It feels like there’s a race to the bottom – undercut someone else to get something for yourself.  I want people to realize that people had to fight to get what we have now.  Because of our unions we have the 8-hour workday and weekends.  In the last general strike, people died fighting for their union rights.

Today, we are fighting for our healthcare.  Management shouldn’t put the cost of healthcare on families and take away from retirees.  Everyone deserves healthcare.

We have bargained in good faith.  Given concessions – almost everything they’ve asked for – and met their financial needs.

My kids are grown but I have a lot of coworkers with families.  And it’s not fair for the district to make them pay so much more.

At the bridge, I feel like management is systematically trying to divide us and turn different units against each other.  I’m here to show my solidarity with ferry workers.  We are all in this together.

My name is Marina Secchitano.  I began working for the Golden Gate Ferry in 1976 as a ticket agent, and was elected by my coworkers to union office in 1989.  I am now the regional director of the Inlandboatmen’s Union and Co-Chair of the Golden Gate Bridge .  Our union represents a majority of the ferry workers here at the Larkspur terminal.

Last year, management announced plans to lay off ticket agents and replaced us with machines.  Now, they are threatening to lay off terminal assistants.

In all my years with the Golden Gate Bridge District, I have never seen management have such disrespect for workers as they have shown at the bargaining table this past year.

Whenever management has asked, we have met their financial needs.  Now that we’ve met their financial needs, they say that this is about ideology.  They want to put more and more healthcare costs on workers, families, and retirees.

How can they make a decision to keep the healthcare benefits for managers that we lost in 1983 while at the same time, cutting ours?  Management can retire after five years and get retiree healthcare.  Workers have to work at least 20 years to get retiree healthcare and now they want to cut it.

What about our ideology?  We want to protect healthcare for workers, families, and retirees.  We want jobs for people, not machines.  We are saying enough is enough.

In this history of the bridge, we have led the fight for the rights of all workers. Union and non-union workers got the wages and benefits that we won.

I’m glad there are so many people out here with us today.  Everyone is facing the same problems.  Employers everywhere are using the economic crash to take everything they can from workers – our jobs, our healthcare.

We have to stand together and fight for all workers.  An injury to one is an injury to all.

My name is Rene Alvarado and I’m a terminal assistant here at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.  I’ve been working here for 20 years.

We do whatever it takes to make sure people get to work or to a ball game safely.  We move boats around from one berth to another, we help people purchase tickets, we maintain the inside of the terminal and parking lot, and make sure people can park when the lots are full.

I like helping people get to work every day.  I love the people I work with and we really go the extra mile to ensure that people have a safe passage.

We have been negotiating in good faith for one year now.  Management says they appreciate our hard work, but they have shown no appreciation at the bargaining table.

My coworkers and I are some of the lowest paid workers in the Golden Gate Bridge District.  Since they laid off the ticket agents, our work has quadrupled.  It’s really hard.  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.

My son and I are both on the Kaiser plan right now and we need a fair deal with healthcare.  It’s hard enough to keep up with the cost of living.

We are on strike to protect our jobs and healthcare.  People really deserve a good job.  The same thing is happening to everyone – I see people getting laid off, healthcare costs going up.

It’s time for management to appreciate us in the way that our passengers do.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2012

Contact: Alex Tonisson, Organizer and Co-Chair, Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition, (415) 449-0442

Golden Gate Ferry Workers Strike on May Day
Second Bridge, Bus, and Ferry Union to Announce May 10 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 10 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.

The 7am rally at the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza has been cancelled.  There will be no union rally at the bridge.  All supporters are instead being asked to join the IBU at their picket lines.

Golden Gate Ferry Picket Line Locations:

7am Rally at Golden Gate Bridge canceled, unions are mobilizing towards supporting picketing locations at Bay Area Ferry terminals. Ferry workers announce May Day Strike to shut down Golden Gate Ferry service.

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

6:00am Sausalito Ferry Terminal; Humbolt and Anchor; Sausalito

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)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2012
 
Contact: Marina Secchitano, Regional Director, Inlandboatmen’s Union, (415) 420-1962
 
Golden Gate Ferry Workers to Strike on May Day  Strike Will Shut Down Morning Ferries

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Ferry workers at the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District announced today that they will be going on strike on May Day.  The strike will shut down morning ferry service.
 
“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.
 
According to Consumer Watchdog, one million Californians will also face up to 20% increases in healthcare costs with Anthem Blue Cross and other companies when health insurance rate hikes go into effect on May Day.
“We cannot continue to allow bosses to shift more and more of rising healthcare costs onto workers.  If we allow this to happen to bridge, bus, and ferry workers today, it will happen to other workers tomorrow.  Management shouldn’t put the cost of healthcare on families and take away from retirees.  My coworkers at the bridge and I will be at the picket lines to show our solidarity.  We are all in this together,” said Kerry Davis, Golden Gate Bridge Ironworker and member of Ironworkers Local 377.
Over the past decade, employers across the country have been pushing an increasing portion of rising healthcare costs onto workers.  According to the Kaiser Family Foundation workers paid 47% more for family health coverage in 2010 than in 2005, while their wages only increased 18%.  Employers paid only 20% more toward workers’ health insurance during this same period.
 
Workers have been in negotiations with Golden Gate Bridge District management since April 2011.  The current contract expired in July 2011 and there have been over 45 bargaining sessions to date.
 
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. 
 
Buses will depart from 19th and Telegraph in Oakland and San Francisco City Hall at 6am on May Day to the picket lines.  Picket line locations will be publicized at 10pm tonight. 
 
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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.

Throughout the planning of Occupy the Bridge we have taken leadership and guidance from the workers directly involved in this struggle.  It has recently come to our attention that the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition would like to redirect all efforts towards supporting May Day strike actions and picket lines.  Our goal has always been to support and empower the workers on the bridge and we are happy to continue our efforts in whatever direction they see fit.  This Mayday we look forward to seeing strong, powerful picket lines, unlike anything the Golden Gate Bridge bosses have seen before.

There will still be a 7am labor rally at the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza.  Buses will depart from 19^th and Telegraph in Oakland and San Francisco City Hall at 6am on May Day to deliver supporters to picket locations.  Picket line locations will be publicized at 10pm on Monday, April 30.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 27, 2012

Contacts:

Alex Tonisson, Organizer, Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition, (415) 449-0442

Golden Gate Bridge, Bus, and Ferry Workers Call for Support at

May Day Picket Lines and Ask Supporters to Keep Bridge Open

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition issued the following statement today calling for support in their ongoing fight to protect quality affordable healthcare for workers, families, and retirees:

“We appreciate the tremendous support we’ve received from the public, our brothers and sisters in labor, San Francisco commuters, and allies like Jobs with Justice, Pride at Work, and Occupy San Francisco,” said Alex Tonisson, Organizer and Co-Chair of the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition.

“Bridge, bus, and ferry workers have done everything we can at the bargaining table to reach a fair contract.  As we prepare to take the next step in the fight for quality affordable healthcare for workers, families, and retirees, we ask supporters to stand with us at strike picket lines on May Day, and to keep the bridge open.”

Workers have been in negotiations with Golden Gate Bridge District management since April 2011.  The current contract expired in July 2011 and there have been over 45 bargaining sessions to date.

The Labor Coalition has offered concessions worth an estimated $2 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.

Buses will still depart from 19^th and Telegraph in Oakland and San Francisco City Hall at 6am on May Day to the picket sites.  Picket line locations will be publicized at 10pm on Monday, April 30.

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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.