San Francisco, CA
San Francisco jails under lockdown amid attacks on deputies, calls made for national guard request
The old San Francisco County Jail #3, shown here in San Bruno, Calif. on Wednesday, August 16, 2006, first opened its doors to inmates in 1934. Under construction for the past six years, a new state-of-the-art facility replaces the aging Jail #3 whic
SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco County Jails 2 and 3 have been placed on lockdown for the weekend due to reports of physical assaults against deputies and jail staff by the inmates.
Sheriff officials report that since March 29, at least seven staff members have been injured by some inmates, including two who have serious injuries.
The San Francisco Deputies Sheriff’s Association (SFDSA) has called on Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Mayor London Breed, and Board of Supervisor President Aaron Peskin to deploy the state’s National Guard for the prisons amid staff shortages.
In a demand letter, the association’s president Ken Lomba demands the city leaders request the deployment of the California National Guard to assist with staffing levels.
“I am writing to urgently address the escalating violence within the San Francisco Jails, a situation that demands immediate action,” the letter read.
SFDSA acknowledged the recent assaults, referring to them as “prisoner fights” becoming more evident amid staffing shortages in San Francisco’s jails.
The association said the shortage in staffing results in “delayed or inadequate response to violent altercations” between the inmates. They call the shortage a crisis that “has been worsening since 2020.”
In the letter, the SFDSA claimed 2023 saw at least 240 reported incidents of prisoner fights, a 58% increase from 2022, and that the reported attacks on inmates against other inmates rose 79% over the same period.
“These figures underscore the urgency of our situation and the critical need for intervention,” the letter continued.
“This trend not only jeopardizes the safety of inmates but also poses significant challenges for the deputies tasked with maintaining order and security,” the SFDSA said in a separate statement.
Due to the lockdowns, visitations, programs, and services are canceled. Officials say normal operations should resume next week.
“We are actively investigating these incidents to ascertain their root causes and any potential correlation,” the San Francisco County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “It is imperative that we identify and address the factors contributing to these assaults to prevent future occurrences.”
“It is imperative that city officials prioritize the safety and security of correctional facilities…failure to do so not only jeopardizes the well-being of those incarcerated but also undermines the safety and effectiveness of the entire correctional system,” said SFDSA.
What’s New
Hilton hotel workers in San Francisco voted on Christmas Eve to approve a new union contract after a 93-day strike, according to the Unite Here Local 2 union.
The union, which represents about 15,000 workers in the region, announced that the deal settles the last of the city’s 2024 hotel strikes, covering approximately 900 Hilton workers.
Newsweek has contacted Unite Here Local 2 and Hilton via email for comment.
Justin Sullivan/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Why It Matters
The new contracts after this year’s strikes establish significant improvements in wages, health care and workload protections for workers at Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott-operated hotels.
The agreements conclude months of labor unrest that involved thousands of workers and disrupted San Francisco’s hotel industry.
What To Know
Hilton workers voted 99.4 percent in favor of the agreement on Christmas Eve, which includes a $3 per hour immediate wage increase, additional raises, and protections against understaffing and increased workloads.
The four-year contract preserves affordable union health insurance and provides pension increases. The deal covers workers at Hilton San Francisco Union Square and Parc 55, with 650 workers having actively participated in the strike.
This agreement follows similar contracts reached with Hyatt workers on Friday and Marriott workers last Thursday, covering a total of 2,500 workers who had been on strike since late September.
What People Are Saying
Bill Fung, a housekeeping attendant at Hilton San Francisco Union Square for 29 years, said: “These 93 days have not been easy, and I’m so proud that my coworkers and I never gave up. We stood together through the rain and cold, and even though there were some hard days, it was all worth it. We will go back to work with our health care, good raises, and the confidence of knowing that when we fight, we win.”
Lizzy Tapia, President of Unite Here Local 2, said: “Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott workers refused to give up their health care or go backwards – and we proved on the picket line that we’re not afraid of a tough fight. As contract talks begin with the city’s other full-service hotels in the new year, they should know that this is the new standard they must accept for their own employees.”
San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie said on X: “All those that have been out on strike will be back to work, and just in time for Christmas. So, things are looking bright as we head into 2025.
What Happens Next
Unite Here Local 2 said it would push for other full-service hotels in San Francisco to adopt the same standards established by the Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott agreements when contract negotiations resume in 2025.
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