‘End Mauser Packaging misery’

Workers were joined by Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, fellow union members, and local leaders calling for an end to the lockout

SEATTLE, WA (April 23, 2o25) — Union members, labor leaders, and elected officials rallied Tuesday, calling on Mauser Packaging Solutions, Inc to end their unjust lockout of 20 Seattle Teamsters. The company shut the doors on its workers last week in the middle of contract negotiations with Teamsters Local 117 after issuing an ultimatum to force workers into accepting a substandard contract proposal.

Mauser operates the Industrial Container Services (ICS) plant in South Park, where the locked out workers refurbish steel barrels for a living. Leading up to contract negotiations, the company drastically cut workers’ hours, making it impossible for them to support their families. While the company claims business has slowed, workers insist production has not dropped off and that a few employees are getting assigned overtime to make up for the lost hours.

“My co-workers and I do dangerous work inside this facility,” said five-year employee Josue Calvario. “We’re constantly inhaling toxic fumes and dust from the barrels. All we are asking for is livable wages and sustainable hours to help pay our bills and keep a roof over our heads.”

With protesters holding signs that read, “End Mauser Packaging Misery,” local union members were joined by Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien, who traveled to Seattle to stand with the locked out workers.

“When large multinationals like Mauser attack workers, we will fight them tooth and nail,” President O’Brien said. “This is a case of a corporate bully trying to intimidate workers and bust their union. We won’t let it happen. Mauser needs to end this brutal lockout and give workers the contract they deserve.”

Paul Dascher, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters 117 shared the workers’ demands: end the lockout, bargain a contract with sustainable hours and fair, family-supporting wages, and respect workers and their union.

Local elected leaders also joined the rally calling on Mauser to end the lockout. “These workers do difficult work every day to help keep our Seattle economy moving forward and support our communities,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “It’s time to reach a contract resolution rooted in the respect — not intimidation — that these workers deserve, delivering a safe workplace with dignity and fair wages.”

At the rally, King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda also denounced the lockout. “Mauser is union-busting plain and simple,” Councilmember Mosqueda said. “They allegedly tried to do it in 2022 when they threatened their mostly immigrant workforce during the last contract cycle, and it appears they’re trying to do it again by locking out workers today. I urge the company to respect their workers, end the lockout immediately, and return to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair contract in good faith.”

On April 9, Mosqueda also delivered a letter to Mauser management demanding that the company bargain fairly. Mauser is a billion-dollar, multinational industrial packaging manufacturer. The 20 workers have been picketing outside the facility since April 15.

But April Sims, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, emphasized that these workers aren’t facing down a massive corporation on their own.

“The WSLC represents more than 600,000 union families across Washington State, and we are united in our call for Mauser to end their unfair lockout of our Teamster siblings,” said Sims. “We’re putting the employer on notice; when they pick a fight with their workers, they pick a fight with all of us. And labor doesn’t back down.”