Service & Solidarity Spotlight: NYC Ferry Workers Unanimously Vote to Join Transport Workers Union

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

The New York City Ferry’s marine diesel technicians and welders have decisively voted to form a union with the Transport Workers Union (TWU).

The 65 members of the bargaining unit work for Hornblower Group, a marine transport contractor, and they are ready to fight for a fair contract that ensures fair pay and stronger benefits.

“We are growing our ranks at the New York City Ferry with this latest organizing victory, as technicians and welders can see the day-in-day-out fight we bring on all fronts and want to be a part of it,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen in a statement. “We will now begin work on a critical first contract to bring big gains for NYC Ferry workers, just like we have for decades with NYC Subways, trains, buses, planes, and bikes.”  

“The highly skilled NYC Ferry workers are trusting in the industrial power of the TWU in New York to deliver a crucial first contract while showing up to fight for them on all fronts, no matter what,” said TWU Special Projects Coordinator Alejandro Arroyo in a press release. “Across New York City and New York State, the TWU is showing over and over again why we are America’s fightback union, organizing the unorganized and standing up for every worker against powerful interests.”