Hundreds rally for ferry workers’ union rights

Hundreds gathered at the Embarcadero, in front of the Ferry Building, to rally and march in support of the Alcatraz ferry workers on Dec. 9. Dozens of different unions from around the Bay Area mobilized to attend the rally, march and mass picket.

From teachers, to janitors, to service workers, it was a strong showing of union solidarity. Elisa Smith, an organizer with

Ferry workers demand union rights, Dec. 9. Photo: Bill Hackwell

the Sign & Display union told PSLweb.org, “It’s good to have solidarity from all the Bay Area unions. We need acts of solidarity like this to keep San Francisco a union town.”

Alcatraz Island is a national park. Contracts are awarded to the company running the ferry service through the National Park Service, an administrative agency of the U.S. government. The company awarded the contract controls the only way for people to take trips to Alcatraz Island.

The anti-union Hornblower Yatchs won the contract to ferry turists to Alcatraz in May 2006. They began operating the ferry service on Sept. 25, 2006 under the name Alcatraz Cruises.

In the switch to Hornblower, 50 members of the Inlandboatmen’s Union (IBU); the International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s Marine Division; and the Masters, Mates and Pilots (MMP) were laid off.

The ferry service formerly was run by Blue & Gold Fleet and the workers were unionized. The union workers now out of jobs used to have decent wages, healthcare and pensions. Hornblower has refused to rehire any union worker. The company is expected to make about $18 million this year.

Union members and their supporters marched from the Ferry Building to Pier 33, in front of Hornblower’s launch. They overwhelmed the sidewalks and made plenty of noise.

The crowd then gathered in front of the launch for a mass picket and spirited rally. Speakers representing the many different unions present emphasized the solidarity among all the Bay Area unions. One speaker representing a San Francisco janitors’ union declared, “If you mess with one of us, then your messing with all of us!”

After speaking at the closing rally, Dave Lyons of the Amalgamated Transit Union told PSLweb.org, “Its important to recognize that workers as a class have the same struggle, that we all have to fight together.”

The ILWU and the MMP will continue to put the pressure on Hornblowers to hire back the union workers. There is currently a boycott on Hornblower’s ferry trips and a six-day a week picket in front of the launch.