Stop Grinch bosses from stealing Christmas for Teamsters families

As Merlino brothers try to steal strikers’ Christmas, support Teamsters 174’s Holiday Toy Drive

The following is from Teamsters Local 174:

SEATTLE (Dec. 15, 2021) — With 330 Teamsters still on strike and the holidays fast approaching, it’s time to show these employers that no matter how cruel they decide to be, they will never kill their employees’ spirits. Teamsters Local 174 will be proving that point by holding a Holiday Toy Drive to benefit the families of striking workers at Gary Merlino Construction, Stoneway Concrete, Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel, Cadman, Lehigh Cement, and CalPortland.

TAKE A STAND — Participate by bringing new unwrapped toys to one of the following locations:

SEATTLE — 5225 E Marginal Way S
BALLARD — 5228 Shilshole Ave NW
RENTON — 915 Houser Way N.
REDMOND — Corner of 188th Ave NE & NE Union Hill Rd
ISSAQUAH — 6600 230th Ave SE

Be sure to take photos and share across social media. All the toys collected will be given directly to the families affected by the strike. You can also contribute to the Teamsters 174 Strike Assistance Fund for these workers.

The Holiday Toy Drive will be officially launched today (Wednesday, Dec. 15) at 11 a.m. at the Renton Stoneway picket line, 915 Houser Way, and will run through Dec. 23.

Let’s get as many people and toys collected as possible to show the Merlinos and their cronies that the labor movement supports these striking workers and we will NOT let them steal our Christmas!

This past weekend, Teamsters 174 saw the power of solidarity and community when dozens of union members came together to process firewood for the picket lines. Let’s do it again and make sure these families get a wonderful Christmas.

PREVIOUSLY at The Stand:

AFL-CIO’s Fred Redmond visits Teamsters picket (Dec. 8) — 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.

Concrete solidarity: Strike grows in King County (Dec. 6) — As of Friday morning, unionized concrete has stopped flowing throughout King County as members of Teamsters Local 174 walked off the job in an Unfair Labor Practice strike. Prior to today, well over 100 Teamsters were already on strike at Gary Merlino Construction and Stoneway Concrete. That number now swells to over 300, as workers from Cadman, CalPortland, Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel, and Lehigh Cement stopped pouring concrete throughout the Puget Sound area.

Gary Merlino drivers’ ULP strike continues (Nov. 19) —  The Unfair Labor Practice strike by 34 construction drivers at Gary Merlino Construction continues, with pickets ongoing at GMC and Stoneway facilities in Renton and Seattle. Gary Merlino workers have been on their ULP strike since Nov. 19.