Just fucking vote no!

Deckhands: Say NO to the City’s Unfair Contract Offer!

The time to stand united is now. Stop fucking around with our money and vote no on the proposed contract being presented to us this week.  It’s not just a bad deal—it’s a direct attack on our future, our livelihoods, and our dignity as essential workers. The city is trying to pull the wool over our eyes, but we see through their tactics. Let’s break this down and understand why we MUST vote NO.

A Contract Designed to Undermine Us

On the surface, this contract may look like the city is offering something reasonable, but beneath the surface lies a calculated effort to shortchange us. The numbers don’t add up when compared to the rising cost of living in New York City. The proposed raises, if any, are so marginal that they fail to account for inflation, skyrocketing rents, and day-to-day expenses.

We’ve worked tirelessly, day in and day out, through heatwaves, freezing winters, and even during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the Staten Island Ferry continues to be a vital link for the city. And yet, the city’s “thank you” comes in the form of a contract that insults our hard work and dedication.

Supervisors’ Salaries at Our Expense?

There’s an alarming claim circulating that terminal supervisors are attempting to skim 1% off our salaries to fund their own. While this might be hard to prove, the very fact that such rumors exist speaks to the lack of transparency and fairness in this contract negotiation. Why should we, the backbone of the ferry operation, fund anyone else’s paycheck? Our hard-earned money should stay in our pockets, supporting our families, not padding someone else’s bottom line.

Divide and Conquer: Don’t Let Them Win

This is a classic move by the city and the union—divide and conquer. They want us to accept less while keeping us in the dark about where our money is going and how decisions are made. If we allow them to push this contract through, it sets a dangerous precedent. It tells the city that they can continue to undervalue and exploit us in the future.

What Do We Deserve?

We deserve fair wages that reflect our essential role in the city’s transportation system. We deserve better working conditions and benefits that support our health and well-being. We deserve transparency and honesty from management, not secrecy and suspicion.

Stand Together—Vote NO

The power of the union lies in our solidarity. By voting NO, we send a clear message: We will not accept crumbs while the city finds ways to benefit others at our expense. This is about more than just this contract; it’s about standing up for our future and making sure that every deckhand is treated with the respect we’ve earned.

We are the lifeblood of the Staten Island Ferry. Without us, the city’s commuters don’t get to work, tourists don’t experience the skyline, and the entire operation grinds to a halt. It’s time for the city to recognize our value and compensate us fairly.

Let’s make our voices heard loud and clear. Vote NO to this unfair contract. Together, we can demand better for ourselves, our families, and our future.