Global travelers heading to San Francisco this summer could be disappointed — they may not be able to visit America’s most notorious prison.
The union representing workers for the sole provider of ferries to Alcatraz Island authorized a strike Tuesday. According to the Alcatraz Workers United union, 91 percent of those voting cast an “aye” vote.
Their hope? To pressure Alcatraz City Cruises to negotiate with them in good faith before the weather warms up and tourists come to San Francisco, according to the union.
Officially certified as a union in October 2022, Alcatraz Workers United is still struggling to get its first contract. “If we don’t get some progress here during this busy season, then we go into layoffs, we go into a slower state,” said Robert Estrada, national president at the Inlandboatmen’s Union. “There’ll be less and less motivation for this company to get this contract done.”
The union declined to disclose how many of the 94 workers in its bargaining unit participated in the strike vote; however, it was a “strong majority,” Estrada said.
“Please take comfort that if there is a labor dispute, it will have no impact on our operations,” Antonette Sespene, general manager of Alcatraz City Cruises said in a statement.
“We are disappointed the Union would threatened our passengers, partners and the community with a potential disruption of those services,” Sespene added. “We are committed to continuing to bargain in good faith and are working diligently with our Crew to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.”
Alcatraz City Cruises is part of the Hornblower Group and City Experiences, which also operates ferries to the Statue of Liberty.
“The Alcatraz Cruises has been negotiating in bad faith with the union now for two years, 36 meetings,” said Supervisor Aaron Peskin, whose district includes Pier 33, where the Alcatraz ferries dock. “They are not taking this seriously.”
Peskin has been a staunch supporter of the union, having participated in multiple informational picket lines and delivered postcards to Hornblower’s corporate offices in person to support workers (the CEO was unavailable to meet him that time).
“What this strike vote means is, people are saying, ‘Hey, we’re upset. We want to stand together, and we’re ready to fight,’” said Evan McLaughlin, an organizer with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. “Alcatraz Cruises relies on these workers, and they just want to feel respected.”
The company has refused to pay any bargaining time to workers, which “is the norm at other employers on the bay,” said Estrada. “All of the company management, they’re all on the pay, they’re on the clock, the attorneys are on the clock, and everybody’s on the clock except these workers.”
The union has yet to draw up detailed plans for a strike, as it is expecting its first economic package from management on Thursday.
Alcatraz City Cruises holds the contract from the National Park Service as the sole provider of ferry services to Alcatraz. If the strike does happen, trips to Alcatraz figure to be curtailed “unless the Alcatraz Cruises is able to find competent people to man their staff, their vessels,” Peskin said. And if they don’t do that, “there’s plenty of places for those tourists to go and spend their money and have a good time at Fisherman’s Wharf.”
“It’s time for Alcatraz Cruises to finish these negotiations and stop playing around,” he continued. “It’s a lucrative business. And these are incredible, devoted, professional workers. It’s high time that they get a fair contract.”
I worked for Hornblower at Alcatraz for a year in 2021/22. I left my union machine mechanics position in Ohio for an engineering position at Alcatraz. I was there when the union was first getting started and left before it was officially recognized. In my opinion, and it’s just that, the union bullied their way into Alcatraz by gaslighting, constantly promoting themselves, and promising things that can not be promised realistically. A majority of the workers are younger and or from another country, which I mean to say, are more impressionable. I feel bad for the workers because they were pulled into the union, and then pushed into jumping on the union strike fad that is happening these days. Unions are needed in some instances, but in this one, it’s just another case of a union forcing there way though the keyhole so they can generate income for their own employees by playing games with these workers lives. Most of the people that work there, and in the Bay area, live an hr or more away where the cost of living is not that of San Francisco. Why? Because they make so much in San Francisco! I got paid more and did less at Alcatraz than any job I’ve ever had. Any of the problems there would have been better solved personally, using your personal worth, than paying some union guys to lie for you and pretend they are on your side.
GOOD! Maybe our Mayor can push the company to actually finish the contract instead of lying about negotiating in good faith. (what a load)
Go workers, no one needs to go to that place, but it will cost the co money if you all strike!
Unions are little more than lawyers and politicians fighting for more money nowadays. Their role used to be a lot more crucial to the health, safety, rights violations and well-being (yes I understand that pay could directly impact all of the above) of their workers but now… just more money.
The author can’t even outline the specifics of what caused the strike, but the insinuation is as clear as day; $$$
Totally inaccurate comment bobby
The previous article, linked at the end, outlines more of the concerns up to now: “So far, negotiations have not touched on wage issues, focusing mainly on more basic parts of the contract, like discipline and safety rules.” But why shouldn’t unions push for higher wages here in the Bay Area, one of the highest cost of living areas in the US? Fair pay has always been a union goal.
Bobby, you realize that when you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, you don’t have to comment, right?