Pierce County Teamsters fight for fair wages

Union asks supporters to urge Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello and the county council to settle a fair contract

PIERCE CO., WA (January 26, 2026) — Public workers at Pierce County, negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement, are asking for support from fellow union members and the public as they continue to negotiate for fair wage increases. These Teamsters perform essential duties for the County and its residents — maintaining roads, cleaning up parks, supporting veterans, providing critical mental health counseling and advocacy, and helping keep the public safe. It’s vital work that the public relies on.

But workers are struggling with wages that haven’t kept up with inflation. While they’re pushing for inflation-aligned wage increases, the County is proposing raises of only 2%. Household costs are up across the entire Puget Sound region, forcing working people to stretch pay checks to their limits. Pierce County has seen some of the highest cost of living increases in Washington state. With the rising cost in living, the County’s wage proposal effectively amounts to a pay cut, per Teamsters Local 117.

As contract negotiations continue, Teamsters Local 117 is asking supporters to send Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello and the Pierce County Council an email urging them to agree to wage proposals that recognize the real rise in cost of living and adequately compensate these public workers for their service.

Photo: Teamsters Local 117

The message for Mello and the County Council reads:

Dear Executive Mello and County Councilmembers,

I am a proud supporter of Pierce County Union members.

Union members in Pierce County have been looking forward to new leadership at the County. Unfortunately, the  County’s current contract proposal to workers—offering just 2% while inflation erodes workers’ purchasing power—is a huge disappointment and feels like more of the same from the County’s elected officials.

Workers at Pierce County perform essential services for our community. They repair our roads, clean up our parks, support our veterans, provide critical mental health counseling, and help keep the public safe. A 2% increase amounts to a real wage cut for these workers when the cost of living in our area continues to skyrocket.

We urge Executive Mello and the entire Pierce County Council to support a fair, inflation-aligned wage increase so County workers can afford basic necessities – housing, transportation, childcare, groceries – and provide for their families.

TAKE A STAND: Send an email to Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello and the Pierce County Council and tell them to support a fair, inflation-aligned wage increase so County workers can afford basic necessities and provide for their families.