AFL-CIO’s Fred Redmond visits Teamsters picket

Show your strike solidarity: Donations, including wood, appreciated

SEATTLE (Dec. 8, 2021) — As a group of 330 Teamsters who transport sand/gravel and concrete for six different construction companies remain on strike, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joined Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks, Washington State Labor Council President Larry Brown and Secretary-Treasurer April Sims, and other Washington labor leaders on the picket line Tuesday outside Stoneway Concrete to express their solidarity. They urged the striking Teamsters to keep fighting “one day longer” than their employers until they get a fair contract.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond addresses Teamsters on the picket line Dec. 7.

Today is Day 19 of the Unfair Labor Practice strike against Gary Merlino Construction, while workers from Stoneway have been on strike since Dec. 1. The picket lines have now grown to include workers from Cadman, CalPortland, Lehigh Cement, and Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel, bringing the full strike to 330 workers on picket lines at 12 separate locations.

WSLC Secretary-Treasurer April Sims on the picket line.

TAKE A STAND — As this ULP strike drags on, here’s how you can support the Teamsters:

MAKE A DONATION — Click here to contribute to the Teamsters Local 174 Merlino Heavy Highway and Sand & Gravel / Cement Industries Striking Workers Assistance Fund. You can also make a check out to “Teamsters 174 Worker Assistance Fund” and send it to: Teamsters Local 174, 14675 Interurban Ave. S. Suite 303, Tukwila, WA, 98168.

VISIT A PICKET LINE and DONATE WOOD — Thanks to their Union Siblings at the Ironworkers unions, Teamsters on the picket lines now have burn barrels to stay warm during the cold, rainy shifts from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Donations of firewood would be greatly appreciated at the following picket locations:

Calportand
Seattle – 5900 West Marginal Way SW
Kenmore – 6425 NE 175th St
Snoqualmie – 5601 396th Dr SE

Cadman
Seattle – 5225 E Marginal Way S
Bellevue – 1701 130th Ave NE
Issaquah – 6600 230th Ave SE
Redmond – 18816 NE 80th St

Lehigh Cement
Seattle – 5225 E Marginal Way S

Stoneway
Seattle – 3803 E Marginal Way S
Renton – 915 Houser Way N

Merlino
Renton – 915 Houser Way N

This Unfair Labor Practice strike is the result of Employers’ failure to bargain in good faith for a new contract. After months of offers that dramatically undercut other construction trade union contracts, Teansters Local 174 reported that lead management negotiator Charlie Oliver submitted another “Last, Best, and Final” offer to the Union that added mere pennies to the previous offer. This offer was not made in good faith, and was resoundingly rejected by the Teamster membership. Instead, the group decided to walk off the job until the Employers decide to negotiate in “good faith.”

On Tuesday, Teamsters 174 announced that a tentative agreement has been reached with HOS Bros., the only other construction employer who had not finalized their agreement with the Union. The tentative agreement, which affects 45 construction HOS Bros. drivers, will be voted upon by the members on Thursday evening. This TA does not affect the 340 workers still on strike at Gary Merlino Construction, Cadman, CalPortland, Stoneway Concrete, Lehigh Cement, and Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel.

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,600 working men and women in Seattle and the surrounding areas. See more pics from the picket lines at Teamsters 174’s Facebook page.

PREVIOUSLY at The Stand:

Concrete solidarity: Strike grows in King County (Dec. 6)
Gary Merlino drivers’ ULP strike continues (Nov. 29)