MLA and LU174 Appendix Together Provide Protection for Local 174 Members While Public Sector Unions are Under Attack

On Saturday January 27 just before 11PM, over 200 Local 174 members employed by King County ratified their new contracts by an overwhelming margin. In this momentous vote, members approved not just their own contract, but the first-ever King County Master Labor Agreement (MLA), with contract language covering a majority of Union employees working for the County. A tentative agreement for the MLA was reached in early October of 2017, and then a tentative agreement for the Local 174 Terms and Conditions of Work (LU174 Appendix) was reached in mid-January

The King County MLA is a collection of the most favorable contract language from the dozens of different Union contracts covering King County employees. It is especially critical at this point in time because it includes groundbreaking language to prepare for an expected Supreme Court decision that will target public sector Unions. A decision on that case, Janus v. AFSCME, is projected this summer. If the outcome is negative, it will make it far more difficult for Unions with public sector employees – such as the Teamsters – to properly represent their members.

However, the King County MLA will be an important defense against the Janus decision. It will allow new employees 30 minutes of paid time with the Union to discuss the contract and get the employee signed up for the Union. It includes language that will make it easier for the Unions to reach their members, while at the same time making it more difficult for anti-Union organizations to reach them secretly. The MLA also provides employees with paid time off to attend Union shop steward trainings.

“The provisions in the Master Labor Agreement will be powerful tools to allow King County Union members to continue to stand together and bargain collectively for better working conditions and rights on the job,” said Local 174 Senior Business Agent Michael Gonzales, who co-chaired the negotiations for the MLA alongside Denise Cobden from PTE 17. “It took nearly a year of hard work at the bargaining table to get to where we are now, but this historic MLA lays a solid foundation to allow our members to flourish going forward.”

The MLA is also a tremendous victory for many of the smaller groups of Unionized workers within King County, who traditionally lacked the leverage at the bargaining table to get the most favorable contract terms for their members.

“By joining in this MLA, negotiated by Michael Gonzales and Denise Cobden, these smaller workgroups were finally able to rise to the same level of protection on the job that the larger Unionized groups have enjoyed,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “This agreement has been King County Executive Dow Constantine’s vision, to see everyone in the County treated fairly and prospering with family wage jobs and strong benefits. One county, one community, where everyone is lifted up through the power of collective bargaining. This contract accomplishes that goal.”

The Local 174 Appendix, which applies only to Teamsters Local 174 members, also contains important language to protect Local 174 members on the job. The appendix includes strong disciplinary language that puts hard and fast timelines on discipline investigations to ensure a timely and fair discipline process.

“Putting this agreement together was an enormous amount of work, but Senior Business Agent Michael Gonzales rose to the challenge just as we knew he would,” said Rick Hicks. “Our members in King County will be extremely well-served by this agreement – not just the MLA, but the Local 174 Appendix, which as usual is the industry leader in terms of language to protect our members. Not only did Local 174 and Michael Gonzales lead the way at the bargaining table, but Local 174 members will continue to lead the way with the best contract in the County.”

King County members were thrilled with the passing of the new agreement, after clamoring to vote at the Saturday night meeting. “It took a long time and a lot of work to get here, but it has been completely worth it,” said Bargaining Committee member Vern Gapp. “This agreement is going to make a huge difference for us. With a strong group of members at our backs and strong leadership out in front, we came together and got an agreement we can all be proud of.”

Further negotiations regarding Total Compensation (wages, Health & Welfare, and range increases) will begin in March.

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 7,200 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.