UPDATED 12:12 p.m. ET
As if the giant West Coast storm weren't enough to make traveling at San Francisco International Airport problematic on Thursday, restaurant workers have gone on strike, affecting food options for stranded travelers.
The 1,000 workers are asking for job security and health care benefits.
"After working without a contract for more than one year, nearly 1,000 restaurant workers at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) went on strike this morning, shutting down restaurants at terminals throughout the facility," organizers Unite Here! Local 2 said in a Facebook post. "If you are traveling through SFO, make sure to bring your own food, and support the restaurant boycott."
The 48-hour strike, which workers voted for last week, started Thursday, and will continue through Saturday morning.
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The strike comes as holiday travel is picking up. Last December, about 3.8 million passengers traveled through SFO, according to
Local station KTVU reported that the strike has closed 55 restaurants at the airport.
JUST IN: 1000 food workers are on strike at SFO. 55 restaurants are closed. Airport says people should bring their own food.— KTVU (@KTVU) December 11, 2014
Doug Yakel, public information officer at SFO, told Mashable that 80% of the restaurants and all retail outlets at the airport remain open.
Looks like passengers stranded at SFO by #hellastorm won't have much to eat: food service workers on strike! #1u pic.twitter.com/zyvuLC5ePU— Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) December 11, 2014
Food trucks are missing a huge bet at #sfo >50 restaurants closed. Hundreds of stranded passengers.— Fire Tracker (@TheFireTracker2) December 11, 2014
.@VirginAmerica 5.5 hour flight to SFO and these are the food options? #EpicFail pic.twitter.com/RWPSxfBdqs— Kit (@blogdangerously) December 9, 2014
Because of the storm, more than 200 flights were canceled, and delays are expected to affect travel throughout Thursday.
#UPDATE from @flySFO: 212 flight cancellations, delays expected to worsen as day/storm progresses. @ktvu— Cristina Rendon (@Cristina_Rendon) December 11, 2014