At least a dozen Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District bus drivers have called in sick Friday, causing the cancellation of some bus service during a one-day strike that has also shut down the district's ferry service between Marin County and San Francisco.
The strike by ferryboat captains with the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association comes during a five-month contract dispute with the bridge district that has left employees without a contract since July 1.
The strike has shut down all of the district's ferry service between Larkspur, Sausalito and the San Francisco Ferry Building until Saturday.
Bridge district spokeswoman Priya Clemens said "an unexpected number of drivers" called in sick starting Thursday afternoon. The 12 drivers out sick have caused the cancellation of 13 bus trips today, including ones departing from Mill Valley, Novato and Santa Rosa.
Officials with the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition, a 13-union coalition of bridge, bus and ferry workers, were not immediately available this morning to comment on whether the workers called in sick in solidarity with the ferryboat captains.
Dave Nolan, a union representative for the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association that represents the ferryboat captains, said the workers calling in sick "was unrelated to the ferry strike."
The ferryboat captains have accused the bridge district of unfair labor practices and not bargaining in good faith. The 13-union coalition is clashing with the district over wages, compensation for training and a proposed high-deductible health care plan, among other issues.
Nolan said the ferryboat captains hope today's strike will prompt a change in the district's bargaining strategy.
"We hope when we get back to the table that the district will be more willing to bargain in good faith with us," he said.
The two sides are next scheduled to meet on Monday.Nolan said the public had enough advance warning of the strike that no one showed up this morning looking to take a ferry from Larkspur.
He said the public has seemed supportive of the strike based on the response of passersby while the workers picketed outside of the ferry terminal there.
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"Based on the traffic and the response of people, the number of cars honking and people waving, it's been very good," he said.
Arthur "Art" Gonzalez, a representative of the Machinists Automotive Trades, one of the 13 unions represented by the coalition, said he was upset at the district's negotiations.
He said a one-day strike by machinists on the Golden Gate Bridge over employee health care was held on Sept. 16, but didn't motivate the district to negotiate in good faith.
That strike did not affect public transit or bridge traffic, Gonzalez said. He said he hopes Friday's strike will send a clearer message to the district.
Bridge district spokeswoman Priya Clemens said she estimated about 9,000 people will be impacted by the ferry service disruption on Friday, but expects buses to be running. "It could be a very difficult day for traffic tomorrow," Clemens said.
Ferrbyboat Captain Robert Farley said the strike was the "last thing we wanted to do." Farley said he realizes the negative impact the action will have on Bay Area residents but said he has to stand up for middle-class jobs in the Bay Area that "are critical and must be saved."
He said ferryboat captains are responsible for the safety of thousands of passengers and that he takes his job seriously, but said he also has to take his livelihood seriously and he feels that is in jeopardy.
REMINDER: There is NO GOLDEN GATE FERRY service today. This includes tonight's 5:45pm Giants Ferry to AT&T Park. Please RT. — Golden Gate Ferry (@GoldenGateFerry) September 26, 2014
