Golden Gate Bridge Ferry Service Suspended for Tuesday's May Day Protests

By: Brian Shields - Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:38:14 -0800
BAY AREA (KRON) -- Commuters and visitors to some of the Bay Area's biggest communities could face long delays as part of the May Day labor protests planned across the region.

Golden Gate Ferry service is already suspended after ferry workers said they would take part in a one-day strike.  Officials say the lack of ferries could lead to increased traffic on the bridge as drivers are already facing route changes because of the weekend opening of the Presidio Parkway.

The official protests get underway at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday with a rally at the Golden Gate Bridge.  Later in the day marches are planned in downtown Oakland merging labor groups with Occupy protesters.  There are also reports of possible planned disruptions at the Port of Oakland.

A 1:30 p.m. Tuesday march down Market Street in San Francisco is also sure to snarl traffic in the financial district.

KRON 4's Alejandra Cerbal talked with people who normally ride the Golden Gate ferry system as part of their daily commutes.  Many are worried about being able to make it to work on Tuesday.  The bridge district now says it will run two early morning buses that stop at the Larkspur Ferry and connect Marin County with San Francisco's financial district.

Union officials say they have no plans to shut down the Golden Gate Bridge itself to traffic.

"We ask supporters to stand with us at strike picket lines on May Day and to keep the bridge open," said Alex Tonisson, an organizer and co-chair of the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition.

A number of union members staged a sit-in Monday evening at San Francisco City Hall to protest planned benefit cuts to help balance the budget.  

Stay tuned to KRON4 and KRON4.com for complete coverage of the May Day protests.

(Copyright 2012, KRON 4, all rights reserved.)
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