Editors, Daily Planet:
On January 17th, Berkeley’s Labor Commission, which makes recommendations on labor issues to the City Council, voted unanimously to endorse a boycott of the notoriously anti-union Hornblower Cruises. For around 30 years the ferry line to Alcatraz Island was operated by a unionized company. But several months ago the National Park Service awarded an exclusive ten year contract to Hornblower, which not only dumped the union, but refused to retain the vast majority of the former workers, some of whom had been working on the ferries for many years.
Although all cruises to Alcatraz leave Pier 33 in San Francisco, many of their dinner cruises operate from the Berkeley docks. Since Hornblower’s anti-labor misconduct extends to our side of the bay, we should make every effort here to persuade Hornblower to rescind its disposable worker policy.
In particular, please do whatever you can to discourage visitors from taking a cruise to Alcatraz until these workers get their jobs back and their union status is restored.. Also, parents should insist that the schools do not give their children an anti-labor education. There are many wonderful ways to enjoy a vacation in San Francisco, including other ferry tours.
It is immensely important to communicate to others that the pleasures of vacationing and leisure should not be at the expense of anyone’s rightful claim to earning a living.
Harry Brill, Berkeley Labor & Community Coalition
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