About 50 striking transit workers with the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition gathered outside the San Francisco Ferry Building this morning to picket on the Embarcadero sidewalk.
The coalition had called for ferry service to be shut down today because of ongoing contract negotiations with the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.
Workers also picketed at the Larkspur and Sausalito ferry terminals.
The district canceled ferry service for the beginning of the day in anticipation of the strike.
Shortly after 7 a.m., seven musicians were playing music at the San Francisco Ferry Building to support the picketers, who were carrying signs that read “IBU-ILWU on strike against Golden Gate Bridge.”
They were chanting “IBU contract!” and “IBU on strike!”
About half an hour later, protesters in eight kayaks could be seen in the water nearby. One had a sign that read, “99 percent.”
The workers stopped picketing shortly before 8 a.m.
According to the transit district, ferry service is scheduled to resume from Sausalito at 1:55 p.m. and from Larkspur at 2:15 p.m.
Transit district spokeswoman Mary Currie said a bargaining session is planned for Monday, three days before another group of transit workers plans to go on strike.
Alex Tonisson, of the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition, said today that Teamsters Local 665, which represents the transit district’s bus operators, plans to strike on May 10.
Tonisson said there is a good chance that bus service will be cut that day and that the Teamsters are expected to provide details on the walk-off.
Currie declined to comment on what preparations, if any, the transit district would make should transit workers strike again.
Patricia Decker, Bay City News
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