December 16, 2020

Local 174 members vote overwhelmingly in favor of strong 3-year agreement

On Sunday morning, a group of workers at one of the more challenging jobs in Teamsters Local 174 voted overwhelmingly to ratify a strong new three-year agreement. The group of 34 workers are responsible for transporting and rendering animal carcasses, and cleaning and transporting the waste from restaurant grease traps. The new agreement they just ratified will provide major rewards for doing the difficult but critically important work they do every day.

In addition to maintaining their Employer fully-funded Teamster Health & Welfare medical benefits, the new agreement makes strong improvements to their wages and also increases their retirement benefits under the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust. The improvements will make it easier for Baker Commodities to attract and retain the workers it needs, while also acknowledging and rewarding their hardworking employees for doing everything they do on a daily basis.

“This group fought for a strong contract, and I believe they deserve every penny,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Not a lot of people could do what they do on a single day, but they do it with pride and they do it well every day. The Baker Commodities management team showed up to the negotiations ready to work cooperatively towards a deal, and as a result of this group’s hard work and solidarity, we were able to achieve a strong contract that will benefit them for years to come.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,600 working men and women in Seattle and the surrounding areas. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.