February 22, 2019
Two-year economic package improves wages, healthcare, and retirement for group of 240 King County employees
At three separate votes conducted at the Teamsters Local 174 Union Hall Wednesday, a group of 240 King County workers voted to ratify a new two-year economic package – referred to as Total Compensation, or “Total Comp.” The group of public sector employees work in the King County Sanitation Division, Roads Division, Parks Division, Fleet Division, and Signs & Marking.
The new agreement includes substantial wage increases, as well as significant improvements to the medical plan – such as enhanced retirees medical benefits, improved long and short term disability, and better vision plans. Pensions will also improve, as King County pension accruals are based on wages earned.
The Total Comp ratification comes more than a year after a new Master Labor Agreement was ratified by the same membership group in January 2018. The MLA, which included all language provisions to protect workers on the job, was the first time all King County workers were united under one Union contract. Under the leadership of Teamsters Local 174 Senior Business Agent Michael Gonzales and Professional Technical Employees 17 Union Rep Denise Cobden, the Master Labor Agreement and this new Total Comp agreement bring together 82 different contracts, covering 7,500 workers from 18 different Unions.
“This agreement is the result of more than three years of negotiations, starting with the groundbreaking Master Labor Agreement led by Michael Gonzales, and culminating with this record-setting Total Comp package,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “These agreements are a true testament to King County Executive Dow Constantine’s commitment to working with Labor Unions and recognizing the value they provide for our communities.”
“We are thankful to our rank-and-file King County members for their patience, and to our rank-and-file Bargaining Committee members for their endurance through this long and challenging process,” Hicks continued. “We are proud to say their efforts have paid off, and will continue to pay off for the foreseeable future.”
King County Total Comp agreements are generally two-year deals to align with the County’s two-year budgets. Bargaining Committee members from Teamsters Local 174 included Vern Gapp, Randy Bowman, Paula Read, Annette Crandall, Tim Speck, Herbert Weaver, Greg Loukidas, David Allison, Scott Ayers, John Sahlman, and John Wade.
Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 7,600 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.