Occupy The Bridge - Tuesday, May (Day) 1st (Golden Gate Bridge)

Unite in solidarity with Golden Gate Bridge workers and the international call for a general strike on Mayday as we occupy the bridge to show the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District that fair wages and benefits can not be ignored.

This action has been called for by the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition and endorsed by Occupy Oakland, Occupy SF, Jobs with Justice, and the Occupy SF Action Council.

Bike Cavalry:
6am Haight and Stanyan
7am 16th and Mission

Bus schedule:
6am 19th and Telegraph in Oakland
6am San Francisco City Hall

One bus (50people) will return to 24th and Mission SF by 10am for the Mayday March in the Mission/March del 1 de Mayo en La Mision

Buses will return at noon to the Occupy Oakland Mass Rally at 14th & Broadway and the downtown SF Mayday convergence at Montgomery & Market.

Resolution in Support of Bridge Workers
Passed by Jobs With Justice, OccupySF and OccupySF Action Council

Over the past year over 380 workers from 19 unions have been in tense negotiations with the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. The coalition of unions includes workers from the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Bus service as well as the Golden Gate Ferry. When the workers current contract expired in July of 2011 the District gave all the non union employees a raise thereby punishing union members for exercising their right to collectively bargain.

Negotiations have stalled because the Bridge Board of Directors is currently taking an ideological position against providing quality affordable healthcare for workers with families. The Board is also trying to reduce the vested healthcare benefits for current retirees. Over the last few months the unions have been escalating their actions in order to push the Bridge Board to do the right thing by providing affordable healthcare for their employees. They have thus far refused to budge. These employees were assured, when they came to work for the Bridge, that if they worked until retirement age, they would receive a livable retirement and decent health coverage for the last part of their life. Right now we see the Golden Gate Bridge turning its back on their employees who have worked hard (many for decades) and contributed their talents, their energy, and their lives to make sure the bridge, and the public are safe.

Therefore on May 1st, International Workers Day, The Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition is calling for a mass rally at the Golden Gate Bridge in order to unite with community members, other unions and the Occupy movement to show the Bridge Board that we are willing to stand up for our families, our healthcare and our jobs.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, so this May Day we honor the struggles of the generations of bridge workers who have fought hard for safe working conditions, fair wages and healthcare benefits for all working people. We look forward to standing in solidarity with you on May Day ! An Injury to One is an Injury to All!