On September 25th, Alcatraz Cruises, part of the anti-union Hornblower Yachts, took over the contract to run the Alcatraz ferry service using non-union crews for the first time since the service began in the early 70's. The unions representing the captains, deckhands, mechanics, ticket sellers and collectors, the Inlandboatmens Union-ILWU (IBU) and the Masters Mates and Pilots (MMP), have been negotiating in good faith with Hornblower owner Terry Macrae for several weeks following months of mostly unsuccessful legal actions.
At issue is whether the captains or "senior" deckhands, who comprise half the workers, can be union members. Hornblower insists there will be no union hiring hall or organizing of other Hornblower workers. The company wants all health and welfare and pension contributions go into its substandard plans rather that the union's solid defined benefits plan.
Read the full story here.
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