Tour guides at San Jose\u2019s historic Winchester Mystery House went on strike Saturday to demand higher wages, tipping rights and smaller tour sizes.<\/p>\n
Represented by Teamsters Local 856, the striking workers \u2014 about 30 full-time and part-time staff \u2014 gathered outside the landmark. Beyond the pay demands, they want to limit tours to 22 people. Current tour groups range from 26 to 29 people, not including children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe over-century-old house contains potential dangers due to improper ventilation, room sizes not built for a large capacity of visitors at one time, and 47 stairways that are navigated on any given tour,\u201d Teamsters Local 856 said in a statement.<\/p>\n
They also seek credit for using their likenesses in marketing.<\/p>\n
Veronica Diaz, the union\u2019s Central Coast Division director and lead negotiator, said they had been in talks with management for more than a year.<\/p>\n
Tour guide and San Jose native Emma Garcia Jones\u00a0said the house\u2019s original owner, Sarah Winchester<\/a>, provided workers with good wages, daily meals and housing for themselves and their families.<\/p>\n \u201cWorkers were able to build their lives here, because they were well taken care of,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd while it\u2019s a beautiful legacy, it\u2019s not one that management at Winchester Mystery House is living up to. Workers deserve respect and Sarah knew that.\u201d<\/p>\n