The concrete driver's strike now in its116th day saw some movement today from the union, representing the 330 drivers. Teamsters Local 174 offered to return to work at four select concrete companies in the Seattle area including Cadman Seattle, Lehigh Cement, and Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel.

What effect will this have on stalled projects like the West Seattle Bridge?

They said in a post on their website today that:

"This decision will allow some concrete to flow to critical projects in and around Seattle, with a dedicated and professional Teamster workforce operating equipment they know well, including the West Seattle Bridge, Sound Transit, the Convention Center, and the Hwy 520 Bridge."

They said that negotiations for a new contract would continue until agreement was reached, including the three companies whose workers have offered to return to the job.

Also in their post they stated:

“It has become abundantly clear to us over the months this strike has gone on that these Employers simply do not care who they hurt in their quest to break the Union,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Thankfully, we are not like them in that regard."

That would mean Gary Merlino Construction Company, Cal/Portland, and Stoneway Concrete are not included in this offer.

The full text of the letters sent to Cadman Seattle, Lehigh Cement, and Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel is below:

It has been the Union’s goal to reach a successor agreement since we commenced bargaining in mid-July 2021. This effort has continued despite your refusal, in tandem with the other sand and gravel industry companies with whom you are aligned, to bargain in “good faith”. Your actions have led to the Union filing charges with the NLRB and ultimately to the work stoppage we are engaged in currently. Through all of our attempts to convince you to course correct, including through public criticism, encouragement first and then pressure from multiple powerful political leaders, or pleadings from owners of major projects that have been severely affected by your behavior, you have demonstrated your blatant disregard for everyone who has been adversely affected.  The Union and its members can no longer allow the destruction of the community we have literally built and that we love.

Your conduct, along with that of the other struck companies, has impacted numerous jobs, including the halting of work on Sound Transit, the construction of the Seattle Waterfront, the Convention Center expansion, the 520 restoration project, the West Seattle Bridge repairs and countless construction projects, both public and private.  You and the other three companies have refused to reach an Agreement despite the multiple concessions the Union has made, proving this has never been about the employees’ demands. This is and has always been about “Union busting”. Hopefully, now that we have exposed that failed strategy, you will all finally do the right thing for the sake of the community, the thousands of workers who are laid-off, and the contractors you have cost millions of dollars in delays.

To that end, we are making a leap of faith and pray this brings an end to this completely unnecessary situation caused by your ill-conceived actions.

After much consideration, and on behalf of the bargaining unit we represent and who you employ, which is currently engaged in an unfair labor practice strike against your company, the Union hereby accepts your March 4, 2022, offer to permit our members to return to work “at any time” for the Seattle Location.  We designate the beginning of the workday on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, as the time when our members will return to work.  To maximize efficiency, please promptly inform our members who are employed by you regarding their work assignments on that day.

We are accepting your offer in hopes that a continuation of bargaining will produce an Agreement once and for all. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at (206) 441-6060. Otherwise, we will be standing by waiting to hear from you on your availability to resume bargaining.

Respectfully,

General Teamsters Local Union No. 174

Rick Hicks
Secretary-Treasurer