Concrete Companies Mock Seattle's Striking Teamsters' Throwing In The Trowel
"Only now has the union chosen to reflect upon the tremendous impacts their actions have caused their members, the community, and thousands of construction workers who have been laid off..."
QUICK FACTS:
A months-long strike by over 300 Teamster-represented concrete drivers has crippled the Seattle area’s construction industry, causing approximately 15,000 construction workers to be laid off.
On Monday, as contractors have increasingly turned to non-union drivers, the Teamsters offered to return a number of strikers to their jobs while negotiations continue.
In response, the struck employers issued a statement seemingly mocking the Teamsters for the timing of their offer to return some of the strikers to work.
Go here for more articles on the Seattle concrete strike.
DETAILS:
A four-month long strike by more than 300 Teamster-represented concrete drivers that has forced 15,000 Seattle-area construction workers to be laid off may be coming to a partial end.
On Monday, as area contractors began “turning increasingly to nonunion drivers to get concrete to projects,” Teamsters Local 174 sent letters (in full below) to the primary employers in the labor dispute offering to return some strikers to work on Tuesday.
However, in a statement released on Tuesday [in PDF], the employers seemingly mocked the union for the timing of its offer to return some of the strikers to work.
On March 14, 2022, the Teamsters Local 174 notified a couple of the ready-mix companies of their acceptance of the companies’ March 4, 2022, offer to permit their members to return to work at any time. Those companies are Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel and Cadman, but only at its Seattle plant.
The “offer” the union is presumably referencing is a statement made by the companies that the union can return to work at any time and does not require the companies’ approval. The companies remain legally obligated to continue bargaining with the union for a new agreement even if the strike ends.
This is not a new development, it has been true since the union chose to strike on December 3, 2021. Only now has the union chosen to reflect upon the tremendous impacts their actions have caused their members, the community, and thousands of construction workers who have been laid off resulting from their strike.
The union established a limitation on their return to work by ending the strike for drivers at a couple of locations. We believe a complete end of the strike makes good sense for all concerned. This would truly benefit all parties impacted by the strike.
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. [Emphasis added.]
The Teamsters’ letter:
Below is the full text of the letter sent from the Teamsters to Cadman Seattle, Lehigh Cement, and Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel:
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
For more updates on the Seattle concrete strike, go here.