Teamsters 856 Members participate in an informational picket at the Golden Gate Bridge September 12, 2014

Teamsters 856 members working at the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District joined their fellow members in the Golden Gate Labor Coalition for an informational picket at the Board of Directors meeting on September 12.

The Coalition took the action after months of bargaining in which the District has proposed draconian cuts to the members’ benefits. The District wants to gut healthcare to the lowest legally allowable levels and enact an up to $12,000 deductible. Members’ wages have failed to keep up with the cost of living – making the healthcare proposals even more egregious.

Teamsters 856 Representative Tim Jenkins informed the Board this morning that if the District does not come up with a reasonable offer, the Coalition will be forced to strike.

Teamsters 856 members work at the District as dispatchers, customer service representatives, and transportation and ferry supervisors. The Golden Gate Labor Coalition is made up of members from 13 different unions who keep the buses, ferries and bridge running.

UPDATE: On Tuesday, September 16th, the Golden Gate Labor Coalition participated in the Machinists Union’s one-day strike.