February 11, 2022

Concrete strike starts to get a little personal

Photo by Sky-Pix Aerial Photography [enlarge]

Both public and private projects have been affected by the strike, including work to expand Microsoft’s campus in Redmond.

Photo from Local 174 website [enlarge]

Local 174 members set up “negotiation” tables this week in front of Gary Merlino Construction’s headquarters in Renton.

Things appear to be getting a little ugly between striking concrete workers of Teamsters Local 174 and the six companies they are seeking a new contract with. The strike is now nearing three months.

On Wednesday morning, the union's entire bargaining committee set up a long string of tables in front of the headquarters of Gary Merlino Construction, one of the companies involved in the strike, in an effort to negotiate the new contract. The parties last met on Jan. 20 before a federal mediator, presumably inside.

On its website, Local 174 said its team waited for over three hours to bargain with the construction company. A photo posted on the website shows union representatives facing six empty chairs on the other side of the tables.

A letter posted on the AGC of Washington's website by four of the companies involved in the negotiations — Glacier Northwest, Stoneway Concrete, Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel Co. and Cadman — said the “matter was live streamed on Facebook by Teamsters 174 as part of an orchestrated media spectacle.” The AGC says it's not part of these negotiations, but its members are affected by the strike.

“ ... Rick Hicks, secretary treasurer of Teamsters 174, and a loud, angry crowd of 50 to 60 individuals formed outside the headquarters office of one of the companies which participates in the negotiation with Teamsters 174 over the expired concrete collective bargaining agreements,” the letter read. “Rick Hicks had several tables set up in mocking simulation of a negotiation environment. Using bullhorns and phone calls, the crowd cajoled and taunted representatives of this company.”

Local 174 is arguing that the companies' offer of a 17.6% pay hike over the next three years, plus other benefits, is a decrease in compensation when inflation is taken into account.

“These concrete suppliers have operated as a cartel for far too long, charging customers whatever prices they want while at the same time refusing to care for their workers in the most basic and fundamental ways,” Hicks said on Local 174's website.

The sand and gravel companies say a controlled and professional negotiation with a federal mediator is the best way for the parties to arrive at a settlement. There's been no word on when the two sides will meet again.

Meanwhile, projects mostly around King County are slowing to a standstill.

Sound Transit has been posting weekly updates, the latest yesterday, on how the strike has affected its four major projects under construction: extensions of the light rail system to Lynnwood, Federal Way, the Eastside and downtown Redmond. Since Dec. 3, there has been 26,143 cubic yards of concrete that hasn't been delivered, resulting in 230 workers being laid off. The agency now predicts another 160 workers will be laid off if the strike continues.

The Lynnwood line has been hit hardest, with 19,607 cubic yards of missed concrete deliveries and 98 workers laid off. Another 87 workers are projected to be let go.

Missed concrete deliveries for the other three projects include: 3,040 cubic yards at the Downtown Redmond Link extension; 1,156 cubic yards at the East Link extension; and 1,150 cubic yards at the Federal Way Link extension. Additionally, 62 workers have been laid off for the Redmond project, 40 for Federal Way and 30 for East Link.

Related Stories:

• As Teamsters strike lingers, county puts out RFQ for concrete suppliers  02-10-2022
  
• No end in sight to concrete strike as many projects, big and small, languish  02-04-2022
  
• Concrete workers continue picketing local jobsites after holiday break  01-10-2022