Laura Mandaro

USA TODAY Network

SAN FRANCISCO — Uber employees arriving to work at the ride-hailing company's headquarters Friday morning found this unusual scene: anti-Donald Trump protesters chained to the entrance doors.

"We came out today to tell the CEO of Uber that we don't agree with him collaborating with the Trump Administration on labor practices," said Michelle Puckett, a protester wearing a sign that read "Uber collaborates, we resist."

Protesters also blocked the side doors to the Market Street building before police started to make arrests. About 17 were arrested on Market Street, a main thoroughfare in the city, in connection with the morning's protests, said San Francisco Police Department Officer Giselle Talkoff. Another dozen were arrested after they blocked Caltrain tracks near 16th Street, halting commuter service into and out of the city.

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By midmorning, the Uber protest group had dwindled to about 16, pushed further down Market Street toward Twitter headquarters. Another group spread across Market Street, halting light-rail trains with banners that said, "Uber collaborates with Trump, San Francisco resists Trump."

"Uber already wreaked havoc on Bay Area life, worsening life for workers from having steady paychecks," Puckett caid. "It means very bad things for the nation if the CEO of Uber advises the president on labor."

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick was named to Trump's business advisory team during the transition between the election and Trump's swearing in. He was one of several tech executives to break bread with the Trump Administration after the industry overwhelmingly supported rival Hillary Clinton, with many during the election warning of the perils of a Trump presidency.

In a statement, Uber said: "As a company we're committed to working with government on issues that affect riders, drivers and the cities where we operate. Just as we worked with the Obama Administration, we'll work with the Trump Administration, too."

The privately valued start-up has waged a long-running legal fight to keep its drivers independent contractors rather than employees, a position that's been contested by labor activists and some of its drivers, who maintain Uber is withholding benefits due employees. Uber argues its low cost rides rely on the contractor model and its drivers prefer the flexibility.