Last night, Teamster 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks announced an offer to resume to work on behalf of striking concrete drivers at three companies: Cadman Seattle, Lehigh Cement, and Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel. The offer would allow work to go ahead on West Seattle Bridge repairs, the $1.9 billion Washington State Convention Center, and several Link light rail extensions across the region.
The concrete drivers offered to return to work as soon as today using the terms of their expired contract, but the companies haven’t yet taken them up, Teamster Local No. 174 Director of Communication Jamie Fleming said.
“These workers will be going back under the terms of the old expired contract while we continue to negotiate,” Fleming said in an email. “So far, the employers have not returned our people to work, claiming they need five days to make a decision/get ready for our return.”
The Associate of General Contractors had yet to issue a statement on behalf of the companies on their website, as they have in the past. Update: Cadman and Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel announced Tuesday afternoon that they’d welcome their workers back, but the companies didn’t say exactly when and urged a full end to the strike:
“We believe a complete end of the strike makes good sense for all concerned. This would truly benefit all parties impacted by the strike,” Cadman, Stoneway Concrete, Glacier Northwest, and Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel wrote in the statement. “Nonetheless, the companies look forward to welcoming back the partial return of drivers and encourage the union to end the strike for the remaining 200+ drivers. Additionally, the union can choose to allow its members the opportunity to vote our most recent offer at any time.”
The Teamsters members’ previous vote went 212-1 against a similar offer.
King County Executive Dow Constantine was appreciative of the deal in a statement shared with West Seattle Blog, who was first on the story.
“Today’s offer by Teamsters to return to work at three locations could help critical projects get back on track while negotiations for a three-year contract continue,” Constantine said. “I appreciate the Teamsters members and leaders who are continuing to bargain in good faith to get a fair contract. Now it’s time for the sand and gravel companies to do the same and return to the negotiating table, secure a fair and long-term contract, and get our region moving again.”
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell echoed that sentiment.
“I want to thank Teamsters Local 174 for taking this extraordinary step forward toward ensuring concrete again flows on critical infrastructure projects.” Harrell said in a tweet. “As negotiations continue, companies should follow this example in seeking good faith solutions.”
Teamsters say concrete drivers make about $37 per hour on average, which they contend is not a living wage, has fallen behind other building trade workers, and would be eroded by inflation — even with a 17% raise phased in over three years like the companies offered, as The Urbanist covered earlier.
Constantine pointed to the toll the concrete stoppage had taken on the region.
“For more than 100 days most of the region’s construction has stopped as a result of a dispute between several sand and gravel companies and their employees, who are represented by Teamsters Local 174,” he said. “Thousands of construction jobs have been impacted, tens of millions of dollars lost, and critical infrastructure projects delayed including wastewater, transit, bridges, and housing.”
