Organizing

First contract links drivers with Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement negotiations, securing major bargaining power while locking in crucial gains immediately

A group of 150 Costco Depot drivers represented by Local 174 voted by nearly 97% to ratify a first contract this past weekend, averting a strike. This first Agreement is unusual in that it only lasts for a few months, expiring at the end of January 2025 – but this was entirely intentional, as it allows the new contract to expire at the same time as the Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement. By lining up the expiration dates, they combine bargaining power with the over 18,000 Costco Teamsters already covered by the National Agreement, which ensures greater leverage at the negotiating table.

This first contract locks in many details already in practice at Costco, and makes dramatic changes that will affect drivers’ daily lives in major ways. Foremost on the list was the addition of the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan, which will move workers from the uncertainty of a 401(k) into the reliable predictability of the number one performing private sector defined benefit pension plan in existence today – a plan which will take past years of service into account when calculating workers’ future benefits.

“This contract victory is a rare shining example of how Unions can raise up workers through past, present, and future,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “The Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan rewards their past years of service to their Company, newly negotiated contract language protects their present conditions, and the combined bargaining power of all Costco Teamsters across the country bearing down on Costco at the same time ensures a brighter future. This first contract may only last a few months, but there is no expiration date on the power these new Costco members of Teamsters Local 174 will wield in the fight for their future.”

“This group showed solidarity beyond what anyone could expect from a new group negotiating a first contract, and that is what got us to where we are,” Hicks continued. “The entire Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement will benefit from having these 150 hardened Teamsters joining the fight. We welcome them to the Teamsters Union, which we firmly believe is the greatest Union in the world.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,400 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174. 

Dear Costco Teamsters,

You are no doubt aware that on September 4, Costco CEO Ron Vachris issued a letter to all Costco employees across the country defending their conduct in negotiations and disparaging the Teamsters Union. Our Local Union negotiating committee wants you to know that as soon as this letter went out, we began receiving messages of support from Costco workers at every level across the country – from warehouses to corporate, coast to coast. The letter even found its way to social media sites like Reddit, where the comments were almost exclusively in support of you and your struggle to get a fair contract out of Costco – an employer who has fundamentally changed, and not for the better, over the last several years. While we personally think it was a poor public relations choice for Costco to draw so much attention to this negotiation, we respect Costco management’s rights to run their company as foolishly as they choose. We certainly appreciate the loud message of support we have received from all over the country, and wanted to make sure you were aware that the public is clearly behind you.

Now to address the claims in the letter itself, beginning with the most egregious claim that Costco is not the cause of the delays in reaching a contract settlement.In the letter, Costco freely admits that they have “been engaging with the union for the past several months.” So then why, you might ask, is there no contract yet?

As usual, management only tells half of the story. There is already a National Costco contract in existence with the Teamsters. The only thing that needed to be bargained was some work rule language specific to drivers, and then wages and benefits. Costco has refused to allow you to join the National Agreement along with your fellow Teamster sisters and brothers. We have been negotiating for months because Costco does not want you to be treated the same as every other Costco Teamster in the nation. Costco would rather punish you for standing up for your federally protected rights than just include you in a contract that already exists.

It does not have to be this way. Since May of this year alone, Teamsters Local 174 staff have successfully negotiated and ratified more than 25 contracts with other employers in Local 174. Meanwhile, we deal with a Costco management team who refuse to make themselves available for negotiation dates sufficient to reach a deal that recognizes the value of your work.

Our strike vote was not “bluster by a labor union” as the letter accuses. It was an attempt to show your managers that they must start taking you seriously. You deserve that respect.

This is not Jim Sinegal’s Costco anymore. This is what you all are telling us and the same things we have heard from your coworkers around the country. They hired a cost-cutting union-busting CFO out of Kroger, and now they are disrespecting you for having the audacity to stand up to them. Don’t let them stop you from fighting for what you deserve. Not only do you have the full support of the Teamsters but thanks to Costco’s letter, you have the support of the entire country as well.

In Solidarity,

Rick Hicks
Secretary-Treasurer – Teamsters Local 174

VIEW LETTER AS SIGNED PDF HERE.

This week marks a dramatic change for a group of Waste Management Scale Operators and Operations Specialists, as they go to work for the first time with the protections of a Teamster contract. The contract, which was unanimously ratified over the weekend, provides substantial increases to wages, medical, and retirement benefits for the group of almost 30 workers at eight different Waste Management facilities in the Puget Sound area. These Waste Management employees were the first of their work classification nationwide to successfully organize, and have now joined Teamsters Local 174 following this contract ratification vote.

“It is difficult to overstate how monumentally important this contract is for these workers,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Not only will they have the highest-quality, affordable Teamster healthcare and a Teamster pension, but most saw wage increases in the double-digits – a truly life-changing difference for a group largely composed of women who had been historically underpaid and disrespected. This contract rights the wrongs of the past, and this group is extremely proud that their fight for dignity and respect has paid off so well for themselves and their families.”

“It was truly an honor to have been part of the team that achieved such an unprecedented contract,” Hicks continued. “This new group clearly shares the brand of militant leadership our Union embodies. I would also like to thank the nearly seven hundred sister and brother Teamsters at the three separate Locals of 117, 174 and 231, who work for Waste Management and fully supported this new group of employees in their fight for a fair contract.”

“This is truly the union difference in action,” Hicks concluded. Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,400 working men and women in the Seattle

For the first time ever, a group of 150 Costco fleet drivers voted in April to become members of Teamsters Local 174. Costco was given a deadline to reach a deal: 90 days to a first contract, or the group will have no choice but to walk off the job. As the company drags its feet and the deadline looms, the group came together this weekend and voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if one is needed.

The pace of negotiations started strong, and for a time it appeared that a contract could potentially be reached before the 90-day deadline expired. However, as time passed, management changed their strategy and began slow-walking the process, even going as far as backing away from previously discussed negotiation dates.

“With the finish line in sight, Costco management slammed on the brakes, giving us no choice but to take this vote,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “I don’t know what management is waiting for, but this vote showed that our members are not willing to wait any longer. They’re strong, they’re motivated, and they’re ready to fight.

“A strike is always a last resort, but the Company has the ability to eliminate that possibility,” Hicks continued. “We are hopeful this strike authorization vote will motivate management to return to the bargaining table and reward their employees with a contract that recognizes the value of their contributions to the Company’s bottom line. As of today, Costco’s net worth is nearly $400 billion, making it the 23^rd richest company in the world. The ball is in their court.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,400 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174. 

Group joins many other Waste Management job classifications as Teamster members after spirited organizing drive

On the heels of a historic contract victory for Waste Management Teamsters at Locals 174, 117, and 231, a new group of Waste Management workers has voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Locals 174 and 231. The vote came after a rigorous anti-union campaign from the company which included a barrage of captive-audience meetings. However, once the votes were counted, it was clear that the almost 30 Scale Operators and Operations Specialists at eight different Waste Management facilities in the Puget Sound area would be the first of their work classification nationwide to successfully join the Teamsters Union.

“We are proud of these workers for standing up to management and making the decision to become Teamsters like so many of their coworkers,” said Teamsters Joint Council 28 President and Local 174 Secretary Treasurer Rick Hicks. “They were tired of being treated as second class workers while Teamster members were achieving the recognition of their contributions to the Company’s bottom line. This major decision to become Teamsters is going to be a life-changing experience for them. We look forward to welcoming them into our family.”

Teamsters Joint Council 28 represents approximately 650 Waste Management Teamsters covered under a Common Clauses Agreement across three Local Unions: Local 231 in Skagit County, and Locals 117 and 174 in King County. The new group will begin negotiations shortly to achieve a first contract.

CDL drivers for Costco Sumner Distribution Center vote overwhelmingly to organize with Teamsters Local 174

In a truly historic victory, a group of nearly 150 Costco Distribution drivers voted to become members of Teamsters Local 174. The drivers move goods from the Distribution Centers to Costco warehouses, and have been striving to become Teamsters for years. Yesterday, the group finally achieved this victory as they voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing.

The effort was originally spearheaded by Teamsters Local 174 Organizing Director Meaza Ogbe four years ago, but that battle was ultimately lost by just two votes. This time around, armed with a larger organizing committee and more participation from a group who had seen firsthand how their management failed to live up to promises, Ogbe and her crew were successful.

“This historic vote means these drivers will be the first Costco Distribution drivers in the country to be Union members,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “The importance of this simply cannot be overstated, as it will encourage other Costco Distribution drivers to follow the path forged by these brave and strong new Teamsters. We are proud of the tireless work done by this entire Organizing Committee, as they quite literally worked day and night to show Costco workers the value of being a Teamster. Local 174 welcomes our new members with open arms.”

Costco driver Paul Lowrie expressed his deep pride over being at the forefront of this crusade. “Costco may not be a bad place to work, but being in a Union will make everything better for us and I’m so glad we were able to convince our coworkers to see the light on this one. Four years ago a few too many drivers listened to the company’s message out of fear instead of following their hearts, but this time the group was hungry enough to take on the fight and win it. I’m so proud of this whole team for what we’ve been able to do.”

That sentiment was echoed by Ogbe, the Union organizer. “It is so fitting that this vote took place on my birthday, because it is the best birthday present for me to know these workers finally have a Union to protect them. This has been a long time coming and a very hard-fought battle but the future looks so bright for these drivers. I can’t wait to see which group across the country decides to be the next to organize!”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,400 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174. 

September 25, 2023

Strike averted for group of drivers who join Teamster family with strong Agreement

Nearly eleven months after voting to join Teamsters Local 174 and after voting to authorize a strike, a group of 50 drivers at Corliss Resources returned to work today with the protections of a strong Teamster contract. The contract secures major improvements to every aspect of the group’s working conditions – including wage increases, full family Teamster healthcare coverage paid by the Employer, Teamster pension, and work rules to protect them from favoritism and abuse. The contract ratified almost unanimously.

Concrete mixer drivers at companies throughout the Puget Sound area are predominantly Teamsters Local 174 members, with Corliss as one of the largest nonunion outliers until their decision to join the Teamsters in November 2022. The decision to join the Teamsters came after major multinational company Heidelberg Cement – parent company of Teamster-represented Cadman – purchased Corliss in January of 2022, which took the company out of the hands of local ownership. Negotiations were slow and contentious, but became far more urgent after a strike vote in June – and the reality of their Teamsters sisters and brothers at Cadman honoring a Corliss picket line at their facilities. The remarkable contract victory came from the solidarity of the new group, the leadership of their rank-and-file bargaining committee who carried the same courage and resolve as hardened, decades-long Teamsters, and the solidarity of all the other concrete mixer drivers in the Local Union who pledged their support.

“This new contract will improve the lives of Corliss drivers dramatically and is a testament to what happens when Teamsters stand together and remain ‘Rock Solid,’” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks, referencing the slogan used by concrete mixer drivers at Local 174 for years. “This group was nonunion a year ago, paying huge healthcare premiums and living at the mercy of management’s whims. Now their pay, benefits, and working conditions are within reach of the contract covering other Local 174 mixer drivers. These massive improvements are exceptional for a first contract and were only possible because this group stayed united throughout.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,400 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174. 

July 10, 2023

Group of construction drivers ratify first Agreement to become full Teamster members

The construction-industry Teamster family has grown yet again, this time with the addition of a group of 71 drivers from Grady Excavating who ratified their first contract with Teamsters Local 174 this weekend. Previously, some Grady drivers received the same Union-negotiated wages, hours, and working conditions as our regular Heavy Construction members only when they worked on a prevailed wage or community workforce job, while the rest of the drivers were nonunion. That complexity and confusion has finally been resolved as the group voted overwhelmingly to become full Teamsters Local 174 members when they ratified their first Teamster contract.

The group is now covered under the AGC (Associated General Contractors) Agreement, which is a contract covering construction Teamsters from multiple different Teamster Local Unions in Western Washington. The AGC Agreement spells out the work rules and economics for all construction Teamsters under the Agreement. In another victory, the group was also able to negotiate improved language regarding job bidding that respects workers’ Date of Hire and reduces the power management has when deciding where to dispatch drivers.

“This day has been a long time coming, and we are proud to officially welcome Grady Excavating drivers into the Teamsters Union,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “These workers have had a front-row seat to the stark difference between Union and nonunion working conditions and pay, and they have now chosen to follow the Union path. We look forward to demonstrating the value of that decision from here on out.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,300 working men and women in Seattle and the surrounding areas. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.

June 12, 2023

Corliss drivers are members of Teamsters Local 174, whose 4.5-month industry-wide concrete strike ended just over a year ago

More than seven months after voting to organize with Teamsters Local 174, a group of over 50 concrete mixer drivers at Corliss Resources have now voted to authorize a strike against their employer. The strike vote is in response to the glacially slow pace of negotiations for a first contract, with Corliss management only agreeing to meet with the union six times over the past seven months. There are still countless issues left open in the negotiations, including many of the issues that are most critical to the drivers – issues like cameras, discipline, pay rates, healthcare, and retirement. As of now, only two additional dates are scheduled for Corliss to meet with the Teamsters Local 174 bargaining team.

“It is obvious to us that Corliss management is giving the absolute bare minimum effort to negotiate a contract with their employees, and this strike vote is meant to show them they need to step it up big time if they want to avoid a work stoppage,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “These workers have lived long enough without a contract, and their patience has run out. It’s time for Corliss to come back to the table with a serious commitment to reaching a deal.”

Negotiations are set to resume Tuesday, June 13.

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,300 working men and women in Seattle and the surrounding areas. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.

June 10, 2023

Yellow bus service in the Seattle School District once again provided exclusively by Teamsters

In a round of good news for Seattle School District families, the threat of a school bus driver strike is gone: this afternoon, Zūm school bus drivers and mechanics overwhelmingly ratified their first contract as members of Teamsters Local 174. Two weeks ago, the group of 150 members had voted to authorize a strike, and that strong move led to a deal that the members voted by 97% to ratify today. This new contract means that Seattle School District (SSD) yellow bus service will be provided exclusively by Teamster members working at Zūm and First Student.

SSD bus service had been performed by First Student as the sole provider until the 2022-2023 school year, when the District awarded half the routes to California-based Zūm. Zūm began hiring drivers who quickly expressed a desire to join Teamsters Local 174, hoping to achieve a contract on par with the one covering First Student Teamsters performing the same work. After months of negotiations, the contract ratified today meets – and in some places exceeds – the standard set in the First Student contract.

“It was crucial that this group win a strong contract to protect the school bus industry standard in Seattle, and these brand-new Teamsters’ solidarity and strength accomplished that goal,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Zūm seems to generally be a good employer, but new equipment and a nice breakroom do not make up for underpaid employees with insufficient benefits. Thankfully, after the Company was forced to realize their workers were willing to go on strike for a first contract, Zūm management stepped up to the plate and agreed to a contract our members were proud to vote for. This Agreement is a victory for all involved, and will continue to improve the lives of the people responsible for transporting our most precious cargo: our children.”

The strong first contract includes all the bells and whistles of a Teamster contract: meaningful wage increases, improved medical coverage, Union retirement, paid holidays, grievance procedure, language protecting workers who honor picket lines, and more. The newly-ratified Agreement fully protects the industry standard for school bus work in the Seattle School District, in a major victory for workers. The contract lasts through August 31, 2026.

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,400 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174. 

May 24, 2023

Stalled negotiations for a first Teamster contract with Local 174 trigger overwhelming vote to call a strike

A group of nearly 150 drivers and technicians providing roughly half the yellow bus service for the Seattle School District (SSD) now sit at the precipice of a work stoppage, after workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike over the weekend. Yellow bus service for SSD had previously been exclusively provided by First Student, until the end of the 2022 school year when SSD chose to award roughly half the work to California-based Zūm. Zūm’s group of newly-hired employees quickly organized with Teamsters Local 174, which already represented workers at First Student, and negotiations for a first contract have been ongoing. Progress has been slow, and with the end of the school year rapidly approaching, workers used this strike vote to make clear to Zūm that they were tired of working without a contract.

The vote was held on Sunday morning, with the Teamster rank-and-file bargaining committee members and contract negotiation team expressing their frustration with the glacial pace of contract negotiations – a pace that has been even more frustrating given that the First Student contract already sets a clear standard for school bus drivers and mechanics in Seattle. Zūm has also steadfastly refused to agree to basic language allowing employees to honor a picket line that is standard in nearly all Teamsters Local 174 contracts. Frustration over all these issues was shared by the workers in attendance, who ultimately voted by a margin of 95% in favor of a strike.

“As these negotiations have dragged on, it has become clear that Zūm made an unrealistically low bid to the Seattle School District to take this work, and they want to pass responsibility for that decision onto their workers rather than themselves,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “These hardworking bus drivers refuse to accept less than they deserve just to help protect Zūm’s bottom line, especially when Zūm executives were the ones who made the poor business decision to underbid this contract. They can either live with that decision, or they can face a strike by their workforce.”

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.

November 16, 2022

Drivers and warehouse workers overwhelmingly ratify historic three-year Agreement

Newly organized beer, wine, and liquor workers at Penske Logistics have ratified their first contract with Teamsters Local 174, guaranteeing protections to improve their lives on and off the job. The contract covers nearly 100 delivery drivers and warehouse workers responsible for storing and delivering product for Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), a national beer and liquor distributor that hired Penske as a third-party logistics company here in the King County area. The new contract will raise the floor in this heavily unionized industry, protecting workers from exploitation and guaranteeing a secure future.

In addition to substantial increases in wages, the new contract includes crucial victories like daily overtime, daily guaranteed hours, a grievance procedure, and retirement security. The members voted to ratify pay increases of up to 20% nearly unanimously.

“The Teamsters Union has two main objectives: to raise up the lives of working people by improving their wages, hours and working conditions, and to protect the job security of our current members, and this new Penske contract definitely accomplishes both of those goals,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “When RNDC spun-off their distribution needs from unionized Columbia Distributors and contracted with Penske Logistics to do their distribution work in this strong union industry, we knew right away these workers needed to be organized and protected by a Teamster contract. We are so proud of this group of new Teamsters for standing together to demand everything they deserve. Once again, solidarity wins the day for all involved.”

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.

November 4, 2022

Group of 56 drivers join heavily-unionized industry as members of Teamsters Union

After a strong vote last week in favor of unionizing, the National Labor Relations Board has officially certified that ready-mix drivers at Corliss Resources will become members of Teamsters Local 174. The vote was nearly four-to-one in favor of unionization, showing workers’ commitment to having a voice at work and a say in their future.

The successful organizing drive was spearheaded by Local 174 Organizing Director Meaza Ogbe, along with Organizer Bryan Ayers and Todd Parker, the Business Agent covering concrete workers within Local 174. The momentous victory comes after a long and bitter concrete industry strike last winter led to historic gains for Teamster workers, demonstrating the power of solidarity and prompting Corliss workers to finally take the plunge and become Teamsters themselves. Now that the victory has been certified, negotiations for a first contract can begin.

“After watching all the chaos and change in this industry over the last year, we realized it was past time for us to go union and get a contract that will put in writing everything we need to protect ourselves and our families,” said Corliss driver and organizing committee leader Jason Nason. “I can’t wait to see how much better things will be once we get a contract. I’m looking forward to life as a Teamster.”

“The only way to stand up to all these concrete companies is to stand together, and with Corliss drivers joining our ranks, we will be stronger than ever,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “We welcome this hardworking group to our union family and look forward to continuing to improve lives for the working class.”

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.

October 27, 2022

New provider of yellow bus service for Seattle School District will be Teamsters

Yellow bus service for students in the Seattle School District will continue to be provided exclusively by Teamster members now that drivers, techs, and mechanics at Zūm have organized with Teamsters Local 174. The workers’ decision to be represented by the Teamsters Union was finalized last week by voluntary recognition after a neutral third party verified a majority of the employees opted for Teamsters representation, and will eventually bring up to 200+ new members into Local 174 once Zūm finishes hiring drivers.

All Seattle school bus service was contracted out to First Student until this academic year, when the Seattle School District decided to split the contract between First Student and Zūm – a California-based company that is new to the area. Teamsters Local 174 immediately got involved in organizing the new group, meeting regularly with new hires and collecting signed Union Authorization cards. Now that the group has been certified, work can begin on negotiating a first contract to protect workers’ rights on the job.

“We are proud to welcome our newest members at Zūm into the Teamster family and look forward to a bright future with this group,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Seattle is a Union town, and school bus driving is a Union industry, so we are pleased that Zūm decided not to fight against their employees and instead let them make their own decision. These drivers chose the Teamsters Union, and together we plan to demonstrate it was the right move.”

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.

June 6, 2022

New contract provides life-changing benefits to newly-organized group

Over the weekend, Conco drivers voted unanimously to ratify a first contract, which will cover the group of 10 for the next three years. The Agreement is one of the strongest first contracts ever negotiated at Local 174, and marks a major victory for the workers who deliver construction materials. In addition to providing many of the normal staples of a Teamster contract such as a grievance procedure and seniority rights, the new Agreement also includes an economic package one normally sees only in mature Union contracts.

The new Agreement raises worker wages substantially, with most seeing double-digit increases in their hourly pay. They will also move from an unaffordable Company medical plan into Teamster medical fully paid by the Employer, and in a stunning victory demonstrating the value of their unique skills, the workers will immediately receive double-digit payments into the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust. The difference these improvements will make for these new Teamsters and their families is life-changing.

The group first organized with Teamsters Local 174 in September of 2021, and contract negotiations between Conco management and the Teamsters progressed steadily but slowly until May of 2022, when a tentative agreement was reached. The resulting contract exceeded workers’ own expectations for their first Union contract, leading to a unanimous ratification.

“This incredible and strong first contract shows what is possible when management is willing to recognize the value of their workers and the service they provide,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “These new Teamsters showed incredible strength and solidarity, and in return, Conco management stepped up and agreed to treat them with the respect they deserve. This new contract will truly improve their lives on a fundamental level, and will make Conco a better place to work. This is the kind of victory we can all be proud of, and we look forward to continuing a productive and fruitful relationship with this company going forward.”

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.

May 17, 2022

3-Year contract provides historic and uniquely-tailored package for group of aircraft fuelers

A group of over 150 Swissport aircraft fuelers at SeaTac International Airport have ratified a historic 3-year contract with Teamsters Local 174. The Agreement, which is their second contract since organizing with Local 174 in 2018, makes great strides for the workgroup in contract language and economics. Not only will workers receive meaningful increases in pay and benefits, but the contract is also unique in how its language meets the specific needs of this mainly-Muslim, immigrant group of workers.

In 2018 when this group first organized with the Teamsters, workers were largely being paid minimum wage with a meager benefit package, and turnover was sky-high as a result. Now, just four short years later, the starting wage at Swissport has increased by more than $7/hr, with most workers receiving additional pay incentives for longevity as they no longer leave the company at anywhere near the same rate as before joining the Teamsters. Health benefits in this new contract are also improved, as are seniority rights, vacations, and general working conditions with the addition of gloves, boot allowances, and lockers.

The contract is especially exceptional in how it meets the needs of this particular workgroup. The Muslim holiday Eid will now be a paid, recognized holiday in this contract, and is believed to be the first time Eid has been recognized in any Union contract – a major victory since this group is over 70% Muslim. The contract also improves language protecting employees’ right to take extended leaves of absence to visit family overseas, as many of these workers are immigrants with strong family ties in their home countries.

“We are extraordinarily proud of this contract victory, as it not only rewards the hard work that our members perform every day, but also recognizes that every group of Teamsters is different and each have individual needs and priorities that must be addressed,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Union contracts are not one-size-fits-all, and this particular Agreement will put our members at Swissport in a strong position to take care of their families in all the ways that are important to them. These new Teamster members have truly seen firsthand what being organized with a Union can do, and we look forward to continuing to negotiate strong contracts to improve the lives of all working people.”

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.

Major win increases Teamster power in the Seattle beverage delivery industry

Nearly 100 beverage delivery drivers and warehouse workers have voted in favor of joining Teamsters Local 174, by a margin of more than 75 percent. The workers are employed by Penske Logistics, warehousing and delivering products for Republic National Distributing Corp (RNDC), a wine and spirits distributor with locations throughout the United States. The Penske workers join fellow beverage workers from Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits, Columbia Distributing, Anheuser Busch, PepsiCo, Swire Coca-Cola, and Shasta as members of Teamsters Local 174.

The organizing campaign for these workers was challenging, given the fact they work for a subcontractor, not directly for RNDC. Early in the campaign, several workers supporting the union organizing drive were fired by Penske in a clear case of retaliation for Union activity. Teamsters Local 174 filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of the workers, and Penske was found guilty of violating federal labor law. The workers received back wages due to Penske’s illegal actions. This blatant violation of the law helped energize the workers, culminating in a victory giving the workers the right to be represented by Local 174. The results were certified yesterday.

Heading the successful organizing drive was Teamsters Local 174 Organizing Director Meaza Ogbe, Local 174 Business Agent Abraham Taylor, and Columbia Distributing Shop Steward BJ Hallagin. They worked tirelessly for months meeting workers around the clock – whatever it took to make sure these workers all understood the value of being Union members.

“When we first started this organizing drive, we had a lot of challenges as the company pushed back really hard and people were scared of losing their jobs,” said Aipopo Vaifale, a Penske worker and another leader of the unionization drive. “But we gave it another push, and we pulled through. We really let the workers take the lead with no pressure, and sure enough they were all in. I’m looking forward to showing everyone they made the right choice once we get a contract.”

“Workers in this country are organizing and finding their voices on the job in record numbers, and we expect that trend to continue,” says Teamsters Local 174 Secretary Treasurer Rick Hicks. “This victory builds on our strong foundation in the beverage industry, and we look forward to getting a strong contract that values the labor our new members put in every day to make Penske successful.”

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.

Group of 16 construction material drivers are certified as Teamsters

The Teamsters Local 174 family has grown again with the addition of 16 drivers working for Conco. The workers, who deliver rebar and form work to construction sites, voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 174 after a successful organizing campaign led by Local 174 Organizing Director Meaza Ogbe and Conco driver Lee Sharp. The election results were just certified by the National Labor Relations Board, paving the way for the group to begin the process of negotiating their first-ever Teamster Union contract.

The group was excited to join the Teamsters after seeing some of the many successes our Union has been able to accomplish over the course of this never-ending COVID-19 pandemic. Teamsters Local 174 has been successful in protecting our members’ health and safety on the job while also negotiating record-setting pay and benefit packages for Teamsters across a wide variety of industries, and these victories made it an easy choice for these Conco workers to vote “yes” to join the Union.

“We were tired of worrying about our jobs and having everything taken from us,” said Conco worker Lee Sharp. “We give 110% but we just don’t get the same in return from our Employer. That’s all going to change now. We just want them to be as loyal to us as we are to them, so we can go home at the end of the day and smile.”

“We welcome these hardworking drivers into our Union with open arms,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Organizing in key Teamster industries like construction is crucial to our future, and seeing this group vote 100% in favor of becoming Teamsters demonstrates that working people in America are tired of being stepped on and are ready to have a voice at their workplace. We look forward to working with this group to get them a strong Teamster contract and a strong Teamster future.”

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.

August 4, 2020

Negotiations and ratification meeting all completed via Zoom teleconferencing

A group of 140 MV Transportation drivers, ambassadors, road supervisors, utility workers, mechanics, and dispatchers are about to see substantially larger paychecks, after voting unanimously to ratify their first Union contract over the weekend. The group, which provides third-party transportation and shuttle bus services to Amazon, originally voted to join Teamsters Local 174 in 2019 – with the Woodinville facility’s workers voting “yes” in August, and the Seattle facility’s workers following suit in September. The newly-ratified contract covers both groups.

Negotiations for a first contract were heating up prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the group voted unanimously to authorize a strike in February 2020 – a meeting that turned out to be one of the last large in-person meetings held by Teamsters 174. Soon afterwards, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns struck with vigor, which led to the cancellation of all in-person contract negotiation sessions. Momentum towards a first contract appeared lost.

However, undeterred in our quest to reach a strong contract to improve the lives of these new Teamsters, Local 174 representatives made the decision to take the negotiations online. Representatives from both sides were able to meet via Zoom videoconferencing, allowing for meaningful dialogue and passing of contract proposals without any risk of COVID-19 transmission. Once a deal was reached, that same Zoom videoconferencing technology was used to hold a contract explanation meeting and secret-ballot vote with the workgroup. The ratification vote was unanimous.

The contract includes big improvements to worker pay rates, which had previously been scattered randomly at all ends of the wage spectrum. The new wage rates are sensible and clear, based on job class and seniority, and will give meaningful raises to all employees. The contract also introduces MV Transportation workers to some of the basics of Union contract protections, including Just Cause discipline and a clear grievance procedure, as well as seniority rights that had not been available to them previously.

“We are proud of what this group was able to achieve, even as the COVID-19 pandemic threatened every step of this process,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “We persevered, we overcame, and now this group can take pride knowing they stood together and achieved a strong Union contract to protect and value their contributions.”

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.

March 17, 2020

No doubt, these are trying times for us all. Feelings of stress, anxiety, and even fear are both natural and common as every new piece of information we receive seems to make the situation worse. We see society shutting down: events are canceled, bars and restaurants are closed, and consumers have put their wallets away. We worry for our jobs. We worry for our children, as schools close and we are left on our own to figure out how to care for them until our schools and daycares reopen. We worry for our financial future, as the tumbling stock market devastates our 401(k) accounts and college funds. And of course, we worry for our health, as more and more people are diagnosed with COVID-19. To help assuage your fears, we’d like to address each of these worries one by one.

Our Jobs:

Many of our industries are experiencing a sharp downturn right now, especially those impacted by the cancellation of events and the near-total desertion of hotels, bars, and restaurants as people isolate themselves at home. It is possible that some of these industries will have to introduce layoffs before too long as their volumes continue to fall. However, our members covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements have rights that nonunion workers do not have. If you are concerned that your industry may be one where layoffs will occur, review your contract language to see what rights you have in terms of seniority, and recall rights for when the pandemic passes and life returns to normal (which it will, we have no doubt).

You can also call your Business Agent and let them educate you on what rights you have in your Teamster contract. At very least, having a conversation about it may help to ease your anxiety on the subject.

If you do end up in a layoff situation with your current employer, please remember that while some industries are in freefall, other industries cannot keep up with demand! Grocery stores our members deliver to are struggling to keep product on the shelves as consumers hunker down to wait out the pandemic at home. UPS, Safeway, and Safeway.com are becoming desperate for more Teamster delivery drivers to bring essentials directly to consumers at their homes. If you find yourself out of a job temporarily, there are other options, and Local 174 can help you find them. See these links for job opportunities, many of which will be temporary to get us through this crisis until business at your regular job picks back up:

Safeway/Albertsons Hiring

Other Union Jobs Hiring

And finally, you may well be eligible for unemployment benefits depending on the exact circumstances leading to you being off work. See this extremely helpful graphic put together by the Employment Security Department to see where you land. If you need help filing for unemployment benefits, see this helpful flyer from King County describing the process of filing for benefits in Washington.

Our Children:

By all accounts, children suffer very little ill effect from the virus itself, which means that at least we do not have much to worry about in terms of our children being sick and miserable.

As for school closures, note that the Washington State Paid Sick Leave law does allow you to use any leave accrued under it if your child’s school or place of care is closed for a health-related reason. Additionally, the State and the various School Districts are scrambling to find solutions for families needing childcare. We will keep you all informed if we hear of any new developments.

As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and never has that been more true than in these present circumstances. With friends and family working together along with our Union Brothers and Sisters, we are confident that everyone will figure out a way to get through these school closures. If there is a possibility of adjusting your work schedule to facilitate childcare with a spouse’s work schedule, please contact your Business Agent and we will see if there is anything we can do. So far, our Employers have mostly been willing to work together with us so that we can all get through this pandemic together.

Our Financial Future:

There is no sugarcoating the damage suffered by our investments over the past several weeks. It may take quite a while for 401(k) accounts and college funds to return to the levels they were at before COVID-19 (remember not to sell while values are low! Buy low, sell high). However, one thing we can say with confidence is that the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund remains strong. It has lost value, but unlike a 401(k) account, the WCTPT is built to withstand market downswings. We have withstood two market crashes previously, and have just completed our highest level of funding in the 65 years the Fund has existed.

It seems glib to say, but all we can tell you to do right now is relax. The stock market will do what it will do, and we as individuals cannot do much about it. At moments like this, we must remember these wise words: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Your 401(k) balance is, of course, one of the things you cannot change.

Our Health:

Of course there is not much your Union can do to protect your health – that part is up to you! You surely all know the rules by now: wash your hands, sanitize anything you touch regularly, stay home if you are sick, don’t cough on people, stay away from vulnerable populations, etc.

For some of us, contracting COVID-19 will not be much worse than the seasonal flu. Those with underlying health conditions or who live in close proximity to vulnerable people will need to exercise even more caution to prevent the spread of the disease. All we can do is be vigilant and keep washing our hands. Remember that masks are for those who have the disease and don’t want to spread it to others. They are not effective for prevention of the spread of the disease, other than for healthcare workers who are in extremely close proximity to infected individuals on a daily basis.

Current CDC guidelines are to self-isolate if you begin showing symptoms of the disease, and to seek medical attention right away if your illness worsens or if you have trouble breathing. Call ahead to medical professionals and let them know you may have COVID-19 so that appropriate precautions can be taken. And remember, if you are covered by any of the Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust health plans, you have access to Teladoc, which can be a great resource when we are all doing our best to stay out of public areas where sick people congregate!

In Conclusion:

Teamsters Local 174 is still open, and we are still serving our members day in and day out – even if it’s over the phone. While we made the choices to cancel our March General Membership Meeting and postpone our Leadership Development Program Training, we will continue to keep you all informed and educated on what your Union is doing – we will just do it without loading you all into one room together. If you have questions, concerns, or anxieties, call your Business Agent. We are here to help!

Together, we will get through this. A year from now, this will all seem like a distant memory. Stay strong, stay together, stay calm, and above all, stay healthy.

In Solidarity,

The Leadership and Staff of Teamsters Local 174

March 17, 2020

Group of five specialized workers join their Pepsi warehouse coworkers as members of Local 174

Sunday morning, a group of five Pepsi Gen Ops workers voted unanimously to ratify their first-ever Agreement with Teamsters Local 174. The group of workers, who handle the check outs and recoup of Pepsi products as well as other duties that support the warehouse operations, had formerly been nonunion, and spent years on the sidelines watching the strides their unionized coworkers were able to make in their Teamster contracts. This week, they finally join them as full members of Teamsters Local 174 after ratifying a Memorandum of Agreement that will last until the Pepsi Agreements with Teamsters Locals 174, 117, and 313 expire in May of 2023.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will make a substantial difference in the lives of these workers. Not only will they receive major pay increases, but they will also gain access to greatly improved healthcare and second-to-none retirement benefits. In addition to economic improvements, the group will also be covered by the strong work rules of the mature Pepsi contract, granting them Seniority rights, Just Cause discipline, and above all, a real voice in their workplace.

The MOA is set to expire at the same time as the full Pepsi contract, at which time this group of workers will join the Pepsi warehouse workers and transport drivers under the Local 174 Pepsi Agreement. Once they are rolled into the full Agreement, their bargaining power will grow even stronger as this group of five workers stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the full group of 350 Teamsters negotiating regionally for a contract together.

“This MOA marks another tremendous victory for the members of Teamsters Local 174, and especially for these Pepsi workers,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “With every new group we are able to add at core Teamster companies and industries, we raise the bar even higher for everyone else in that industry. We are happy for these workers, whose lives are about to improve dramatically as a direct result of their decision to join the Teamsters. It is never too late for workers to choose a better future!”

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.

February 10, 2020

Group of over 120 workers could call strike if negotiations for first contract continue to stall

At a boisterous and spirited Sunday morning meeting, MV Transportation employees in Seattle and Woodinville voted unanimously to authorize a strike against their employer yesterday. The group, who voted to join Teamsters Local 174 last summer, has been in stalled negotiations for their first contract with the provider of shuttle service for Amazon employees.

The high-energy group of drivers, ambassadors, road supervisors, utility workers, mechanics, and dispatchers were not shy about expressing their opinions on whether or not to authorize a strike. After they were updated on the progress of negotiations, the workers and their elected Bargaining Committee members reminded each other of the reasons they voted to become Teamsters in the first place: unfair wage scales, unaffordable medical plans, minimum wage driving jobs in the midst of a shortage of skilled drivers, and above all, a lack of respect in the workplace.

“This is the moment we’ve been preparing for. This is what it’s all been about,” said driver and Bargaining Committee member Michael Olhava. “We joined the most militant Union on purpose, because we wanted someone who would fight for us. Well, now it’s our turn to fight for ourselves – and we’re ready.”

“Nothing says ‘it’s time to take our demands seriously’ like a unanimous vote to authorize a strike, and that is exactly what these workers delivered,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “MV Transportation has been stalling for time, blaming their contract negotiations with Amazon for the delay. These excuses have been going on for months, and our members are tired of hearing them. It’s time to get serious about reaching a fair contract that lifts these workers out of poverty and shows them the respect they deserve.”

“This whole situation is an embarrassment, and it is an embarrassment that needs to be rectified,” said Local 174 Director of Negotiations Patty Warren. “Amazon is the most valuable company in the world, owned by the richest man in the world, and their well-compensated employees are transported in luxurious shuttles driven by people living in poverty. The majority cannot afford company healthcare, which means their medical costs are being shifted onto the taxpayers. Amazon and MV Transportation, you can do better than this.”

Now that a strike has been authorized, Local 174 leadership has the ability to call a strike at any time.

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.

January 18, 2020

Strike avoided as group of workers win strong contract

For the second time in the span of a week, Teamsters Local 174 has achieved a major first contract victory: a group of six workers at Recology ratified an incredibly strong agreement this morning. The group, which includes Data Quality Specialists, GIS Specialists, and Operations Analysts, voted unanimously to ratify an agreement that makes major strides towards full equality with Recology drivers, dispatchers, and other work groups that have been Local 174 members for years.

The group voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 174 in November, and then unanimously authorized a strike in January after some stonewalling by management. Ultimately, a strike was averted as Recology management returned to the negotiating table with a strong offer which was ratified today. The contract expires on March 31, 2021.

This newly-ratified agreement allows these skilled office workers to enjoy the same mature contract language as all the other Recology Teamsters in Local 174, and brings incredible improvements in wages, pension and health & welfare. These workers will receive additional vacation weeks and floating holidays, and for the first time, they will receive overtime pay after eight hours in a day as opposed to after 40 hours in a week. This all comes on top of the strong economic package involving Teamster Medical and Teamster Pension, as well as significant wage increases. Together, these improvements make this Agreement one of the richest first contracts ever negotiated by Teamsters Local 174.

“This is a historic victory, and one that perfectly demonstrates the power of worker solidarity,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “This small group of just six workers stood strong, with hundreds of their coworkers ready to help them win their fight, and it led to the incredible contract these workers will now enjoy. We are proud to have them as our members, and are excited to see how this new contract will transform their lives.”

“For years we watched our coworkers gain more and more in their Teamster contracts, and now today we can finally join in and be a part of those gains,” said Stephen Szeibert who has worked for Recology for more than eight years and served on the Bargaining Committee. “This is going to make a huge difference for us. I am proud to be a Teamster!”

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.

January 12, 2020

Strike Avoided as Group of 11 Workers Agrees to Life-Changing New Agreement

After a tumultuous negotiating process that came dangerously close to a widespread DHL strike, a group of 11 clerical workers at DHL Seattle and SEA-BFI voted unanimously yesterday to ratify their first contract with Teamsters Local 174. The group voted unanimously to join Local 174 in August of 2019, and then voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in December. Saturday morning, at a meeting attended by every single worker in the group, they voted to ratify their first-ever Union contract as members of Teamsters Local 174.

The new Agreement represents a major victory for the group. Not only will they be covered by the strong and mature contract language in the DHL National Master Agreement and Office Clerical Operational, but they also will see major increases in contract economics contained in the new Local 174 Clerical Rider Agreement. In addition to wage increases, the group will receive extra holidays and vacation weeks, among other improvements. In a historic and life-changing victory, the group was able to achieve Teamster pension and medical coverage. They will become part of the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund, and will receive family medical coverage under a Teamster medical plan with no out-of-pocket premium costs – benefits they have never received before as DHL employees.

“This was a tough process, but we are extremely proud of our new members for winning this great Agreement through solidarity,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Even though this is a small group and a new group, they demonstrated that they weren’t afraid to take on their Employer, and as a result, they now get to enjoy an extremely strong contract – one that will continue to improve in the future.”

“We also want to extend our sincere thanks to the IBT Express Division and its Director, Eastern Region Vice President Bill Hamilton,” Hicks continued. “This victory was truly a nationwide team effort.”

“I am so happy with this contract, and even more than that, I am happy to be a Teamster,” said 25-year DHL clerical worker Barbara Conner, who served on the Bargaining Committee. “We had a front row seat to the power of worker solidarity. It was so empowering to realize that even though we are only 11 people, there were hundreds of DHL Teamsters ready to stand with us until we got a contract we could live with. And that’s exactly what we did. Without a doubt, this contract is going to change our lives.”

Negotiations for the DHL National Master Agreement and Office Clerical Operational Supplement will likely begin next year, as both contracts expire in April of 2022. The Local 174 Rider will also be renegotiated at that time.

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

This video stars hundreds of active members of Local 174, along with photos of countless hundreds more, in order to celebrate 110 years of the strongest Local Union in the Teamsters!

Hosted on our website:

http://teamsters174.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/110th-ANNIVERSARY-VIDEO.wmv

Embedded via YouTube:

November 12, 2019

Group of 80 workers achieve Teamster contract in under two weeks

A group of 80 drivers, hostlers, and dock workers at USF Reddaway are celebrating after ratifying their first-ever Union contract with Teamsters Local 174. The group was completely nonunion just a few short weeks ago. They were recognized as Teamster members on October 30, 2019, and then voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first contract November 10, 2019. They now join their sisters and brothers in Kent, Burlington, and Pasco in Washington State as unionized Reddaway members.

The process of organizing these new workers began in September, when USF Reddaway Teamsters throughout the Western United States voted to ratify a contract which included language granting “card-check neutrality” to any groups wanting to organize with the Teamsters. “Card-check neutrality” means that as long as more than 50% of the workers sign cards saying they want to join a Union, the Company will recognize the Union without wading through a drawn-out legal process and secret ballot NLRB election.

Once the new regional USF Reddaway contract went into effect, nonunion workers at the Tacoma location reached out to Teamsters Local 174 to say there was strong support for unionization in the work group, and the Teamsters should get involved. Local 174 Director of Organizing Meaza Ogbe met with the group, and found they were correct: the workers were primed to become Teamsters. She began collecting cards signed by workers wanting to join Teamsters Local 174, and within a month, more than half of the workers had signed union cards. Reddaway then agreed to recognize Teamsters Local 174 as the new collective bargaining representative for their employees in Tacoma.

Because Reddaway Teamsters are all covered by one regional Agreement, the group was also able to avoid the delay of negotiating a first contract. Instead, workers reported to the Teamsters Local 174 Union Hall on Sunday afternoon to vote on the same contract that currently covers 1,300 Reddaway Teamsters across the Western United States. The contract was ratified overwhelmingly.

“It’s amazing to think that just a few weeks ago, we were nonunion and management could push us around and treat us however they wanted, but now we are covered by a Teamster contract,” said Jim Dahl, a driver and a strong supporter of the organizing campaign. “This is a major transformation for us, and it’s going to make our lives at work so much better! We are proud to be Teamsters.”

In addition to our members joining the Union and ratifying their Agreement, Reddaway workers at Teamsters Local 839 in Pasco, WA and Local 63 in San Fernando, CA also ratified their Agreements and are now covered by a Teamster contract.

The new contract the groups just ratified will bring higher wages, as well as access to Teamster healthcare including Retirees Health & Welfare for the first time. It also includes mature language governing non-economic issues like ‘just cause’ discipline, bargaining unit work protections surrounding sub-contracting, seniority, and transfer rights.

“This victory may seem like a whirlwind, but I first got to know this group years ago, with the late Teamster Business Agent Brian Davis,” said Ogbe, the Teamster organizer. “It fills me with pride to see them finally become members of Teamsters Local 174, and I know Brian would be proud as well.”

“This marks a victory in every sense of the word, as all aspects of these workers’ jobs are about to improve,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “But beyond that, this victory also shows the importance of current Teamster members standing strong and negotiating card-check neutrality language into their contracts. Reddaway Teamsters should be proud that their fight to win a strong contract with that kind of language in it, is now helping to grow the Teamsters Union within Reddaway. This is a victory for all involved.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,400 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.

November 5, 2019

A group of Recology Data Quality Analysts voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 174 today. The group of office workers, who perform specialized work, will join Recology drivers and dispatchers as members of Teamsters Local 174.

The group of workers first approached Local 174 Trustee and Recology dispatcher Laura Malloy about joining the Teamsters a few months ago, after seeing the benefits their coworkers were able to achieve under a Teamster contract. Malloy connected the group with Local 174 Director of Organizing Meaza Ogbe, and the process moved swiftly from there. Today, they were able to proudly cast their “yes” ballots and become Teamsters. Results should be certified by the National Labor Relations Board next week.

“We welcome these new Recology workers into our Teamster family, and look forward to showing them the value of being Union members,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “More and more nonunion workers these days seem to be noticing what their unionized coworkers are receiving, and saying ‘why not me?’ The Teamsters are pleased to welcome any workers willing to stand together and fight for a better life!”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,400 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.

September 20, 2019

Downtown Seattle Amazon shuttle drivers choose Teamsters

Just two weeks after MV Woodinville drivers voted to join Teamsters Local 174, their 70 coworkers at MV Transportation Seattle have also voted to become members of the Teamsters. Both campaigns were led on the ground by Local 174 Organizing Department and MV Transportation Woodinville driver Michael Olhava.

The workers, who shuttle Amazon employees to and from their work locations in downtown Seattle, made their decision last Friday after an effective organizing campaign. The final election results should be certified by the National Labor Relations Board next week.

Olhava was instrumental in organizing his own work group, and then shared his experience with the Seattle group to help them realize the Teamsters were the right choice for them as well. “I am thankful to have had the opportunity to help so many people down the road to a better life,” Olhava said. “This is a proud moment for me.”

“There is so much power in solidarity, and being united with the Woodinville drivers means even more bargaining power when we get to work on our new contract,” said MV Transportation Seattle driver Linda Case. “We are all excited to be Teamsters, and to have both of these groups of drivers all together in the same family makes the victory that much sweeter.”

“We are proud of these workers for choosing to become Teamsters, which will be one of the best decisions for them and for their families,” said Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Local 174 is an extremely strong Local Union with the best contracts in the country, and we are excited to work with this new group of drivers to show them just how powerful they can be when they stand together as Teamsters.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,100 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.

August 27, 2019

A group of around 50 shuttle bus drivers working for MV Transportation Woodinville have voted to join Teamsters Local 174. The workers, who carry Amazon employees to and from work every day on large coaches, voted strongly in favor of becoming Teamsters today. The final election results should be certified by the National Labor Relations Board in eight days.

The successful organizing drive was spearheaded by Local 174 Organizing Director Meaza Ogbe, along with MV Transportation driver Michael Olhava. The group decided to unionize with a goal of improving their pay, working conditions, and benefits, and soon those goals can begin to be addressed through negotiations for a first contract.

“A ‘yes’ vote gives us the opportunity to work towards achieving what we deserve for us and our families,” Olhava told his coworkers as he reminded them to vote. “Let’s stand united!” His coworkers heard the message loud and clear, voting strongly in favor of becoming Teamsters.

“We are thankful for the trust these drivers have placed in us to help them build a better future,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “These hardworking shuttle drivers transport the employees of one of the richest companies in the region: Amazon. It is time for them to get their own slice of the American Dream.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,100 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.

August 14, 2019

Lohrman will work as both a Business Agent and Organizer

Teamsters Local 174 is proud to announce the addition of Waste Management Teamster Brett Lohrman to our staff. After spending the last two decades as a garbage truck driver, Lohrman will now split his time working as a Business Agent covering the Sanitation industry, and working as an Organizer helping nonunion groups find their voice on the job.

Lohrman started his career 21 years ago washing garbage cans at Waste Management. A year later, he became a full-time garbage truck driver, and never looked back. He spent nearly 14 years as a Shop Steward helping his Teamster Brothers and Sisters fight for their rights on the job, and now is excited to put those same skills and passion to work for the members as a Local 174 Business Agent.

In addition to his time as a Shop Steward, Lohrman has also served on the rank-and-file Bargaining Committee for the last three Waste Management contracts and mid-contract extension. In 2011, he served as an elected Local 174 Convention Delegate at the IBT Convention.

“We are excited to have Brett join our family to help represent our members in the large and growing Sanitation division,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “He has the skills and know-how to take on those Employers and stand up for the members, and his passion will also be extremely well-suited to work as an Organizer. Brett is a great addition to the team and we look forward to watching the success he will enjoy!”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,100 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.

August 7, 2019

A group of 13 office clerical staff working for DHL Seattle and Sea-Tac voted today to become members of Teamsters Local 174. The couriers, ramp workers, and part-time loaders and unloaders at these locations are already Teamsters, so the addition of the clerical staff makes these facilities wall-to-wall Teamster shops.

Current DHL Teamsters at these locations are covered by the National Master DHL Agreement, which covers more than 2,800 Teamsters nationwide, as well as the Local 174 Rider Agreement. Now that the Seattle and Sea-Tac clerical workers have joined Teamsters Local 174, negotiations will commence to add them to these Agreements. All Local 174 members at DHL are represented by Senior Business Agent David Jacobsen, who helped to organize the group alongside Local 174 Director of Organizing Meaza Ogbe.

The Company committed an Unfair Labor Practice during the campaign by suddenly giving workers a raise as soon as the organizing drive became public. Prior to the raise, workers had been under a wage freeze for years. Despite this, and with plenty of help and support from their Teamster coworkers like driver Jeff Fecteau, the office clericals spoke clearly today when they voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 174.

“We are proud to welcome these new members into our Local Union, and we thank them for their trust as they work to build a stronger future,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “For years they have been watching their coworkers reap the benefits of one of the strongest Union contracts in the country, and now they will have the opportunity to participate in that as well. We look forward to demonstrating the value of being a Teamster.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,100 working men and women in the Seattle area. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.

We will be holding our first VOLUNTEER ORGANIZING COMMITTEE MEETING on August 18 at 9AM here at the Teamsters Local 174 Union Hall!

Keeping our Union strong is a team effort — and that means we need your help organizing new members. A growing Union is a strong Union, and no one is better at bringing new members into the fold than active Teamsters like you! After all, you have firsthand experience with the incredible value of a Union contract and what it can bring to your workplace and to your family.

Interested? The first step is coming to the meeting. Mark your calendars for Sunday August 18 at 9AM!

Flyer PDF here.

May 12, 2019

Lengthy, contentious negotiation results in record-setting first contract

Life is about to change for a group of over 150 fuelers, dispatchers, and mechanics working at Sea-Tac airport, as they voted yesterday to ratify their first-ever Teamster contract. The smell of jet fuel was strong in the meeting room, as workers voted enthusiastically and overwhelmingly in favor of the contract – a contract which makes them among the highest paid Swissport fuelers in the country, and codifies strong language that will dramatically improve their daily lives on the job.

The workers first voted to join Teamsters Local 174 in March of 2018, after a challenging organizing drive spearheaded by Local 174 Director of Organizing Meaza Ogbe. “Despite cultural and language barriers, the group was eventually able to agree on one important thing: they wanted  respect on the job,” Ogbe said. “Yesterday, they proudly voted to guarantee they will be treated fairly by their employer.”

The new contract guarantees respect in many ways. Not only does it ensure that workers will be fairly compensated for the physically backbreaking work they do, but it also ensures that things like favoritism, being forced to work through breaks and lunch, and being penalized for using protected leave will be things of the past at Swissport. “This contract remedies most of the major issues the membership identified at their demands meeting held last April,” said Business Agent Michael Walker, who will be representing the group. “This is a major victory for everyone.”

Negotiations were contentious at times, especially during the holiday season when workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike that would have shut down SeaTac airport. A strike seemed imminent yet again just a few weeks ago, until Swissport management finally decided to do the right thing and give their workers a fair contract.

“This contract is far more than just record-setting wages, as it includes all the core basics you’d expect in a Union contract – seniority, Union security, grievance procedure, ‘just cause’ discipline – truly the whole package,” said Local 174 Director of Negotiations Patty Warren. “It was a tough negotiation, but in the end we reached an agreement that is fair to everyone, and will really make life better for these workers.”

“Before this contract, people worked at Swissport for years and got nothing – no raises at all, and no respect,” said Swissport employee and Bargaining Committee member Vailili “Vice” Malauulu. “This contract changes everything. No more discrimination or favoritism. The old Swissport is gone – we are Teamsters now.”

“Everyone should be proud of this contract and the incredible improvements it will make for these hardworking Teamsters,” said Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “This fight wasn’t just about money. It was about respect for a group that is largely comprised of minorities, making minimum wage doing a difficult, smelly job out in the elements – a job that most of us would balk at performing ourselves. While we are pleased Swissport management decided to do right by their workforce, we still have a tremendous amount of work left to do in exposing the price-fixing done by the airline industry in taking advantage of a mostly immigrant workforce.”

“This strong Teamster contract is going to benefit everyone involved, and is just the beginning,” Hicks concluded.

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.

May 3, 2019

SeaTac Airport Fuelers Will Vote on New Contract May 11

After nearly a year of negotiations, and after an overwhelming strike authorization threatened to shut down SeaTac airport through the busy holiday travel season, the Bargaining Committee representing a group of 150 SeaTac Airport fuelers has reached a fully-recommended offer with their employer Swissport. The full group of fuelers will be voting on the proposed Agreement on Saturday May 11.

Workers were thrilled and energetic to hear news of the agreement and impending vote. “If you want to know how much of a raise you get, you’ll have to come to the meeting!” Local 174 Organizer Meaza Ogbe teased the work group as they pressed her for details of the proposed agreement. Ogbe led the successful organizing drive to bring the Swissport fuelers into the Teamsters last year. The workers laughed, and promised to attend the ratification meeting.

“This was a tough fight from the beginning, but it was important for us to change the way the industry has abused these workers,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “This Bargaining Committee was steadfast in their mission to make sure their coworkers were finally rewarded for the work they do for the airlines every day at SeaTac Airport. We are proud of their accomplishments!”

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.

View the meeting flyer as a PDF here.

April 8, 2019

Purchase of Selland Auto Transport by North American Auto Transport averts bankruptcy and finally leads to a strong first contract for West Coast Teamsters

A story that started more than four years ago has at long last reached a satisfying conclusion today, as carhaul drivers working for North American Auto Transport throughout the Western USA have successfully ratified their first-ever Teamster contract. This contract will make the group of nearly 70 drivers and mechanics into full-fledged Teamsters – many for the first time in their careers – after a grueling battle of company ownership vs. employees that nearly led to bankruptcy and dissolution of the company.

This story of worker triumph began with a successful organizing drive at carhaul company Selland Auto Transport nearly four years ago, when Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks received a lead for a potential organizing campaign from Local 174 Director of Organizing Meaza Ogbe and Recording Secretary/Senior Business Agent Carl Gasca. When Hicks realized that the opportunity at Selland spanned five different Teamster Joint Councils across the West, he reached out to IBT Carhaul Director Kevin Moore to suggest a Regional Agreement. Following that discussion, a plan was developed and eventually workers across California, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Montana all voted to join the Teamsters to improve their conditions on the job. Once that vote was certified, contract negotiations with Selland management began.

However, it quickly became apparent that Selland management was willing to do anything they could to impede the process of negotiating a fair contract with their employees. Management fought back against even the most basic and non-controversial tenets of a union contract; they paid steep fines for illegally retaliating against Union supporters; they endured a one-day strike that halted their operations up and down the West coast; they watched their most experienced workers leave the company to find better working conditions elsewhere; and they watched their business wither as they insisted on focusing all their time, energy, and resources on waging war against their employees’ rights to fair treatment on the job.

Eventually, as Selland teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, company ownership finally admitted defeat and sold the company’s remaining operations to North American Auto Transport. Once the purchase was finalized, union-friendly North American leadership and the Teamsters were able to quickly work through the remaining issues and reach a contract proposal that was acceptable and fair to both sides. Over the course of this past weekend, drivers in Seattle, Portland, San Bernardino, and Oakland attended meetings in their respective cities to learn about and vote on the proposed contract. The votes were counted today, and the contract was ratified by a margin of over 91%.

The new contract makes dramatic improvements to just about every aspect of the job. Improved ‘Hours of Service’ rules will much more effectively protect drivers from unsafe excessive overtime; a robust grievance procedure will protect drivers from unjust discipline; bargaining unit work will be protected from widespread subcontracting; and crucially, owner-operators will finally receive access to life-changing benefits they never had before, including protection from layoff based on seniority, access to healthcare, access to retirement. Most importantly of all, workers will soon find that the favoritism that ran rampant at Selland Auto Transport will be a thing of the past under this new agreement.

On the economic side, the most substantial improvement of the contract is in healthcare, as workers will move from an expensive and inferior company plan into high quality Teamster medical with significantly lower out-of-pocket cost. This means that for many workers, healthcare will improve dramatically while simultaneously putting an extra $500-$600 per month back in their pockets. In addition, all drivers will receive a wage increase, which for some drivers will be the first raise they’ve seen in more than nine years.

“There are a lot of people I wish could be here today,” said longtime Selland-turned-North American employee Tim Charles, a Teamsters Local 174 member who served on the rank-and-file bargaining committee and attended all negotiating sessions through the endless four-year slog. “So many people left the company as this process dragged on, and I don’t blame them. I just wish they could be here to celebrate this with us. This contract is going to change everything, and I’m so glad we finally made it to the finish line.”

“It’s a new day at this company and a new day for these hardworking Teamster drivers and mechanics,” said Roy Gross, Assistant Director of the IBT Carhaul Division and lead negotiator of this contract. “Everyone involved can now move forward and focus on doing what we do best: our members will focus on transporting vehicles safely and efficiently, and company management will focus on growing and earning back the business that Selland management lost.”

“This contract is the best possible outcome to a grueling and pointless battle,” said IBT Carhaul Division Director Kevin Moore. “The former Selland management learned an important lesson here: going to war against the people who make your money for you never pays off. We are thankful that North American Auto Transport was able to negotiate fairly and reach a good contract, and most of all, we are all thankful the fight is over now and these workers can move on to a brighter future under a strong Teamster contract.”

Said Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Hicks about the deal: “This contract will be the template to restore the once mighty but currently nonexistent Carhaul industry in the West under the leadership and guidance of Brother Moore. Drivers in this specialized field will finally realize the value they provide to these companies.”

March 23, 2019

Agreement covering 450 workers combines eleven contracts and a newly organized group of mechanics into one 5-year agreement

Teamsters Local 174 & 231 members made history today, as a group of 450 Waste Management employees throughout King County and Skagit County voted for the first time to ratify one agreement covering them all. The agreement is historic not just in its scope, as it combines many separate contracts into one, but is also historic in its achievements in both language and economics.

The full group of workers now covered by this agreement includes garbage drivers, transfer station drivers and operators, recycling and yard waste drivers, mechanics, welders, utility workers and everything in between. This new master agreement brings incredible leverage, especially to the smaller groups who had previously struggled to keep up with the gains made in the larger contracts. The master agreement now brings all the groups onto equal footing.

In another historic move, the new agreement also incorporates the newly-organized South Sound mechanics, who voted to join Teamsters Local 174 just prior to the start of contract negotiations. These new members will also benefit from the incredible language and economic package contained in this mature contract.

The improvements achieved are too numerous to list. Some of the most important changes include the addition of among the strongest language ever negotiated to protect workers against involuntary overtime, as well as new language governing bidding rights, which will give workers the ability to bid on any Waste Management job opening under the Local 174 jurisdiction, regardless of location. Previously, workers could not move to a different location.

The agreement adds two additional floating holidays, and contains improvements to vacations, sick leave, bereavement leave, daily guarantees, and more worker-friendly language governing discipline for minor non-vehicular accidents and incidents.

On the economic side, the agreement includes record-setting wage increases that will immediately raise wages for some groups by more than 10% — and in one case, nearly 14%. It also guarantees five years of full maintenance of benefits for all Waste Management workers in the best Teamster medical plan available, and adds over $2 per hour to the pension contribution over the five year agreement.

In yet another historic move, the negotiating team was also able to persuade Waste Management to pay into the Retirees Welfare Trust XL Plus plan, which was first debuted in the Joint Council 28 Rider to the National Master UPS Agreement and will go into effect there as soon as the full UPS Agreement is ratified. This retirees medical plan, which Waste Management workers can take advantage of beginning in 2020, will allow eligible employees to keep healthcare during retirement for just $150 for the individual and $300 for the family. This monumental improvement will open up the possibility for workers to retire and maintain affordable healthcare for their families.

“Without a doubt, this contract is an historic achievement that will improve working conditions for all of our members at Waste Management,” said Local 174 Director of Negotiations Patty Warren. “We started with the language from the strongest of the existing contracts, and then built this entire agreement on that foundation, leading to more than 175 improvements in the final product. It was an epic undertaking, with an equally epic final result. I’m proud of everyone who was involved in this process.”

“Once again, Teamsters Local 174 has raised area standards and set the bar extremely high,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “We had one of the strongest bargaining committees I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with, and the ferocity they brought to the bargaining table is clearly evident in this record-setting agreement.”

“This is one of the best sanitation agreements in the industry,” Hicks continued. “This agreement will be a template for sanitation contracts throughout the country, and that is due to the strength and professionalism of our members and our bargaining team. We congratulate them all on their new contract and appreciate the investment the Company has made in their employees, our members. Now it’s our turn to deliver the best service possible to the communities.”

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.

January 31, 2019

A full year as Union members has “exceeded all expectations” for this group of 100 new Teamsters

One year ago, on a Saturday evening in late January, a group of fuel tanker drivers met at the Local 174 Union Hall to make one of the most important decisions of their lives: they were going to vote on their first-ever Union contract. This vote came after more than a year of negotiations and a unanimous strike authorization, and would decide the future for nearly 100 drivers in the Seattle area.

Their decision that night was to ratify the contract by a margin of 96% – thereby setting in motion a complete transformation of their day-to-day experiences in a difficult and dangerous job.

These APP workers’ story began well before that January evening, though, when Teamsters Local 174 Organizer Meaza Ogbe – along with 13-year APP driver and ‘ringleader’ Tony Inglett – began a campaign to organize the group of drivers. That campaign ended in November 2016 when the group voted affirmatively to join Teamsters Local 174.

“Before we got there, these guys were overworked and underpaid, especially given the certifications and skills they need to do the job,” said Ogbe, the Union organizer. “Management had favorites and treated everyone differently based on who they liked best that day. It was terrible for morale.”

Inglett, who has been a tankhaul driver for more than three decades, described the push for a Union contract as an absolute necessity for this group. “I knew that this had to be done if we were ever going to move forward in this industry,” he said. “We had such an inequity between the highest-paid and lowest-paid drivers. There was no fairness.”

Once the group voted to organize, Inglett served on the Bargaining Committee with his coworkers David Storm and Antonio Anaya, fighting tooth and nail against a hostile APP management team. Their goal? To get a Teamster contract their coworkers could thrive under.

That mission appears to have been an unparalleled success. Now that the group has spent a year working under their new contract, the workers describe a completely different environment than the one they lived with before they went Union.

“I got four raises in the last 11 months because of this contract,” said Dean Siegman, who has been working for APP for 10 years. His pay has increased nearly 24% in a year, all because of the new Teamster contract.

“I was never one of management’s favorites. I got under their skin because I don’t do office politics,” he explained. Because of this, he was one of the most underpaid drivers relative to his skills and years of service with the company – a fact that the new Teamster contract swiftly rectified. “The financial gain alone has made it a lot better for me,” he said.

Even management’s former ‘favorites,’ like 19-year employee Darren Foreman, are glad to be free of the grip of politics and popularity contests in the workplace. “The contract has really given stability to the job, and made it to where we actually know what we have and know what we’re going to get,” he said. “Everyone just goes and does their jobs, and we don’t have to wonder where we stand. It’s all right there in the contract.”

Beyond the economic improvements and better predictability on the job, Tony Inglett also describes a huge improvement in morale among the workgroup. “Before we were Teamsters, we really didn’t know each other. We weren’t friends. We’d go to punch in, maybe nod at each other, that’s it. But now, we all know each other. We’re all brothers. We’re all in this together.”

“We’ve got a collective voice now,” Inglett continued. “Guys are starting to realize how much better being Union is. I think this year is going to be our year as drivers.”

That optimism is shared by Inglett’s coworkers, who are already looking forward to negotiating their next Teamster contract in 2021. “We’ve got a good base, a good starting point,” said Siegman. “Next go around, we can hold out for the things that are really important.”

Foreman agreed that the future looks bright. “I told our guys, nothing’s ever given to you. You have to be willing to work for it. And if you believe in it, you have to fight for it 100%. That’s what we’ve been doing, and that’s what we’re going to keep doing.”

The APP drivers’ Teamster contract has already created ripples throughout the fuel hauling industry, as other nonunion workers become increasingly interested in what these APP drivers were able to achieve. “They’re wanting to know how we did it, they’re wanting contacts at the Teamsters,” said Inglett.

“The nonunion guys are hoping for an industry change as far as everything that we’re fighting for,” Siegman agreed. “The things we got, those are things that are important to guys in a whole lot of companies. Company owners can’t just give their guys peanuts anymore.”

The APP contract has already led to more organizing victories, as 16 APP propane drivers and service technicians as well as 4 APP warehouse workers joined Teamsters Local 174 in November of 2018. Negotiations on both of those contracts will be starting shortly.

“This APP contract was groundbreaking when it was ratified, and it has continued to be an inspiration to an entire industry,” said Teamsters Local 174 Senior Business Agent and Western Region Tankhaul Director David Jacobsen. “Everyone is looking at APP, looking at the guarantees they have in their contract, and wanting to be next. It is very gratifying to see. I think the organizing victories we just saw at APP propane and warehouse are just the beginning.”

Teamsters Local 174 leadership is also impressed with everything the APP group has been able to accomplish in one short year of Union membership.

“When this contract was first ratified, I said that its strength was a direct reflection of the strength of this group of drivers, and this past year has proven that again and again,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “APP drivers went from being nonunion and beaten down by management, to being some of our strongest members and organizers. It is truly amazing how completely this group transformed. They are an unstoppable force, and we are proud and honored to have them in our family.”

Of course, Hicks is not the only one pleased to have APP in the Teamster family. Darren Foremen, who was a bit uncertain about the Teamsters when the APP organizing drive first began, says his 40-year Teamster mother was one the strongest voices pushing him to go Union. When he made the decision to support the Teamsters and placed a Teamster sticker on the back of his car, she summed it up in true Teamster fashion: “It’s about damn time!”

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.

December 14, 2018

Local 174 had an incredible year of victories! Thanks to all our members for your trust and support. Here’s to another great year in 2019!

November 27, 2018

Group of four workers join APP fuel and propane drivers as Local 174 Teamsters

The Local 174 family has grown again with the addition of four new APP/World Fuel Services workers. These new Teamsters, who work in the APP warehouse, were certified as members on November 21, 2018 via a card check neutrality agreement with their employer.

They join the larger group of APP workers as members of Teamsters Local 174: nearly 100 fuel drivers who ratified a first contract with our Union in early 2018, and another group of 16 propane drivers who voted to join Local 174 on November 7 of this year.

“Between the fuel drivers, propane drivers, and now warehouse workers, it is clear to see that workers at APP – and throughout the tankhaul industry – are realizing the incredible benefit of Union membership,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “We are pleased to welcome these warehouse workers into our family.”

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.

November 18, 2018

Swissport Aircraft Fuelers Vote Overwhelmingly to Authorize a Strike

A group of nearly 150 aircraft fuelers have authorized a strike against their employer, escalating their fight for a first contract with Swissport. The workers, who fuel nearly all aircraft departing from Sea-Tac International Airport, have been working to negotiate a first contract since voting in March to join Teamsters Local 174.

Progress of negotiations has been slow and difficult, as Swissport continues to stall negotiations by insisting on proposing language that undercuts local area standards. Local 174 already represents a group of Swissport workers in the fuel tank farm at Sea-Tac Airport. If a strike were to be called by the Teamsters, air travel out of Sea-Tac Airport would come to a halt, as aircraft would be unable to refuel.

“Swissport management did not believe their employees were serious about getting a strong first contract,” said Local 174 Director of Negotiations Patty Warren. “This nearly-unanimous strike vote should make it clear to Swissport that their bullying tactics will not work. It is time to get serious about the negotiating process or it’s going to be an interesting holiday season.”

“A strike authorization vote can be daunting for a newly-organized group, but these workers rose to the challenge and spoke clearly with one voice: they will not tolerate Swissport’s intimidation,” said Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer and Joint Council 28 President Rick Hicks. “We are proud of our new members’ courage and resolve, and we hope this vote will send a powerful message to their employer that they need to reconsider their anti-worker positions if they want to reach a contract without a strike.”

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.

November 9, 2018

Group joins nearly 100 APP fuel drivers as members of Local 174

Nearly a year after 90+ APP/World Fuel Services fuel drivers ratified their first Teamster contract, a group of 16 propane drivers and service technicians joined them this week after voting by a wide margin to become members of Teamsters Local 174. The organizing victory came after a months-long anti-union campaign by their employer.

These newly-organized Teamsters do challenging and dangerous work, driving propane trucks for delivery to commercial and residential customers throughout the Puget Sound area. Transporting these highly flammable products requires a CDL with HAZMAT endorsement and significant training.

“This group of APP workers saw firsthand the improvements their fuel driver brother and sisters earned after voting to join the Teamsters, so it’s no great surprise they wanted to follow in their footsteps and become Teamsters as well,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “We welcome these propane drivers and service technicians to our family, and look forward to negotiating a first contract that will reward them for the difficult and dangerous work they perform on a daily basis.”

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.

October 26, 2018

Group of mechanics, welders, and utility maintenance personnel vote to join Teamsters Local 174

 After a swift organizing campaign, a group of 13 workers at Waste Management voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 174 today. The group, which is made up of mechanics, welders, and utility maintenance personnel, will join nearly 500 other Waste Management sanitation members who perform work as truck drivers, operators, mechanics, welders, sorters, and transfer station drivers in Teamsters Local 174.

Negotiations begin Monday, October 29, 2018 on a successor agreement between Waste Management and Teamsters Local 174, a fact which was successfully leveraged to prevent an anti-union campaign by the Company. These new members will join in those negotiations, which include an effort to combine ten separate agreements into one Master Agreement covering all Local 174 members working at Waste Management.

“We welcome these new members back into our family, and look forward to demonstrating to them the power of being Union members,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “We look forward to beginning the negotiating process to achieve a contract that recognizes the work these members perform for Waste Management.”

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.

August 24, 2018

New Agreement makes huge strides in improving way of life for ReNu truck drivers

After just their second journey through the contract negotiations process, a group of 21 Teamsters Local 174 members at ReNu Recycling Services ratified an exceptionally strong new 3-year agreement this past weekend. This group of truck drivers – who provide containers for construction and demolition debris – voted in 2014 to join Teamsters Local 174, and achieved their first Teamster contract in 2015. This newly-ratified agreement builds upon the strong foundation laid by that first contract.

The agreement includes a long list of important improvements: meaningful wage increases, major pension increases, full maintenance of benefits on Teamster healthcare, weekend overtime, night shift differential, expanded paid vacation language, and two additional holidays. All of these improvements together will make for a much better work experience for these 3-year Teamster members.

“When we joined the union, everything changed overnight – especially when we signed that first contract,” said Gary Shepard, a 10-year ReNu employee and member of the rank-and-file bargaining committee. “Now this contract – everything has just been getting better. Morale is going up quite a bit.”

“We are so proud of these ReNu drivers for their commitment to improving their own futures,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “From organizing drive to first contract and now to second contract, they never wavered. There’s a lot in this agreement to be happy about, and these guys earned it through hard work and solidarity.”

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.

August 13, 2018

New agreement guarantees better wages and working conditions for Teamsters in Locals 174 and 313

After nearly a year of negotiations that led to a strike authorization vote, a group of 90 grocery home delivery drivers working for Safeway.com voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first-ever Teamster contract last night. These drivers, of whom 80 are Local 174 members and 30 are Local 313 members, are now full-fledged Teamsters for the first time in their careers as Safeway drivers.

The new agreement will bring many improvements to the working conditions and lives of these drivers. Wages will increase across the board, with some of the lowest-paid drivers seeing double-digit percentage increases. The group will also finally receive affordable healthcare, which most did not previously have access to as they were held to part-time hours and the costs were prohibitive. For many, this will be life-changing as they can now qualify and afford healthcare for not only themselves, but for their families as well.

Another exciting benefit for the group, and one that is unusual for a group ratifying a first contract, is that they will be joining the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan. This will begin the process of building a secure retirement with a Defined Benefit pension plan – which is also nearly unheard-of for “part-time” workers.

As for improvements to working conditions, they are numerous and include better scheduling rules, daily guarantees, hard limits on the length of unpaid breaks between shifts in a given day, and dramatic improvements to safety. Safety and vehicle maintenance issues had previously been at the forefront of drivers’ minds.

“I can’t wait to work under this new contract,” said Safeway.com driver and Bargaining Committee member Michael Fanning. “There are so many improvements … the difference in our day to day life on the job is going to be like night and day. I’m psyched!”

Jeff Frazer, a 12-year driver and Bargaining Committee member, was equally excited. “This contract means security. We finally have some security in our schedules, in our jobs, and in our retirement. We’ve never had that before. This is huge.”

Now that the agreement is ratified, these drivers are ready to head to work and enjoy their new lives as Union members.

“This is a great day for the Teamsters and an even better day for these Safeway.com drivers, who were the first in the country to organize and are now the first in the country to work under a Teamster contract,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “I am proud of these drivers for their courage – courage to vote ‘yes’ to join the Teamsters, courage to vote ‘yes’ to authorize a strike, and now the sweetest part: to vote ‘yes’ on a contract that will improve their lives.”

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.

Nearly-unanimous vote raises possibility of strike by grocery home delivery drivers

June 4, 2018

On Sunday evening, Teamsters driving grocery home delivery trucks for Safeway.com came together to participate in their first-ever strike authorization vote. The group of about 90 drivers has been in negotiations for a first contract since late last year. However, faced with slow progress and management’s unwillingness to back off from several unacceptable proposals, the group decided to demonstrate their commitment to getting a first contract by taking a strike authorization vote. The vote was unanimous except for one “no” vote out of the entire unit.

There were several issues that led the negotiating team to decide that a strike authorization vote was the right approach. One major issue has been Safeway.com management blatantly disregarding the principle of seniority by putting new hires into full-time positions without offering those positions to current part-time employees. Another major problem in the negotiations has been management’s insistence on proposals that would allow them to withhold better routes and hours from drivers on the basis of qualifications, including “attitude.”

“I’ve been diagnosed with a ‘bad attitude’ since the third grade,” Local 174 Director of Negotiations Patty Warren said at Sunday’s meeting, to cheers. “We’re not going to agree to let them pick and choose who gets to work based on who they like the most. That runs contrary to everything we do as a Union.”

Once the time came to vote, the results were clear: Safeway.com delivery drivers are ready to take on their company and fight for a fair contract.

“As usual, our hope is that a strike is not necessary to get to a contract for these drivers,” said Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “However, the group has spoken clearly and in one voice: management needs to start listening when we tell them that if they won’t respect seniority, they are going to have a problem.”

Local 174 also represents nearly 150 Safeway truck drivers out of Safeway’s distribution center in Auburn. If the Safeway.com drivers were to strike, these truck drivers would honor the picket line, halting delivery of groceries to Safeway stores throughout the state.

Vote comes after brief but vicious anti-union campaign by Airgas

April 19, 2018

Yesterday morning, 23 Airgas drivers in the Seattle area voted to become members of Teamsters Local 174. The group of drivers, who perform a wide variety of services including everything from delivering essential gases to hospitals to keeping soda fountains running with deliveries of liquid CO2, will join over 700 other Airgas employees across the country as members of the Teamsters Union.

The election victory came after a very brief but vicious anti-union campaign by the company. Airgas brought in union-busting attorneys to hold regular anti-union meetings with the drivers, and to ride along with them throughout the day spewing anti-union rhetoric.

“Despite the company’s best efforts to brainwash the employees against forming a union, these Airgas drivers voted in favor of themselves and their families,” said Local 174 Director of Organizing Meaza Ogbe, who helped organize the group. “They realized that if a company can afford to spend that kind of money on union-busters to fight the union, then they can certainly afford to pay their workers a better wage with a benefits package that will help support their families.”

This organizing victory is part of a larger national campaign by the Teamsters Union to organize Airgas, which is owned by France’s Air Liquide and is the largest transporter of liquid air in the world.

“The Teamsters have a strong density at Airgas in the East and Central parts of the country, but less so in the West,” said IBT Western Region Tankhaul Director and Local 174 Senior Business Agent David Jacobsen. “With this organizing victory, Local 174 is taking the lead on building strength at Airgas in the West.”

The group of drivers had been in contact with Local 174 for quite a while, which meant that when the organizing campaign officially began, support for unionization was already strong.

“We are proud of these drivers for having the courage to take charge of their own future,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “We welcome them into our family and look forward to getting a great contract that will improve their lives.”

As for the drivers themselves, they are excited about the next chapter of their lives. “This feels good,” said driver Robert Castro. “It really feels like we just joined a huge family of support.”

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.

March 15, 2018

Approximately 150 Aircraft Fuelers at SeaTac Airport Voted to Join Teamsters Local 174

Nearly 150 aircraft fuelers, dispatchers, and mechanics employed by Swissport have finally received word that they were successful in their effort to join Teamsters Local 174. The mostly-immigrant workgroup is based at SeaTac airport, and is responsible for fueling all commercial aircraft departing from that airport.

“These individuals perform technically difficult work that has a direct impact on public safety, yet Swissport pays them minimum wage without benefits. Turnover is sky-high as a result,” said Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “For the work they do, these people deserve far better treatment. The customers of Alaska Airlines and all the flying public deserves better. We are proud to see them standing together to tell their employer that they will not be taken advantage of anymore.”

The fuelers will join their 13 fellow Swissport employees working at the SeaTac fuel farm as members of Teamsters Local 174.

The election victory comes after a difficult organizing campaign spearheaded by Local 174 Director of Organizing Meaza Ogbe. “We faced numerous challenges, especially language and cultural barriers, but those were ultimately overcome by speaking a language we can all understand: the language of respect,” said Ogbe. “I am so proud of the courage these workers demonstrated in standing up to their employer and not falling prey to their manipulations. They are now in a great position to improve their wages, hours and working conditions, which will improve their entire standard of living.”

The election results will be certified next week and we will begin the process of negotiating a first contract by conducting a demands meeting and listening to the employees on what they wish to accomplish.

“Welcome to our new sisters and brothers to the Teamsters Union, and welcome to a better way of life,” said Hicks. “We are happy to have you in our family.”

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.

January 27, 2018

96% Margin of Ratification as 3-year Agreement Delivers on Tankhaul Drivers’ Wish List

In an incredible and hard-won victory, a group of 90 fuel delivery truck drivers at APP/World Fuel Services voted tonight to approve a new three-year agreement with their employer. The contract victory comes over a year after the drivers first voted to join Teamsters Local 174. The group voted unanimously to authorize a strike action on October 1, and gathered to make picket signs for a potential strike on November 12.

“The agreement is groundbreaking in its breadth, and includes several contract articles that are rare to achieve in a first contract,” said Local 174 Director of Negotiations Patty Warren. “We were able to get contract provisions such as dues check-off, DRIVE, and most importantly to these drivers, Union pension contributions through the Pacific Coast Benefit Trust. That was a major accomplishment that could not have been achieved without the courage and solidarity of this new group of Teamsters.”

The agreement also includes a signing bonus, improved healthcare at a lower cost, additional holidays, improved weekly overtime rules, and new provisions requiring the Company to pay for necessary certifications for the drivers. Previously, those certifications were paid for out-of-pocket by the drivers themselves.

In addition, the employees’ wage structure will be simplified and improved across the board. Every employee under the new contract will receive a wage increase, with an average increase of 6.1% overall.

“The strength of this contract is a direct reflection of the strength of this group of drivers,” said Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “These drivers showed what a great Teamster looks like, even before they became full Union members. Now that they have ratified this agreement, they can stand together proudly and take their Oath of Obligation to become full-fledged members of Local 174. We are glad to have them as members.”

“This victory was a team effort,” said Local 174 Senior Business Agent and IBT Western Region Tankhaul Division Director David Jacobsen, who is the Business Agent representing the group of new Teamsters. “It started with an incredible organizing drive spearheaded by Local 174 Director of Organizing Meaza Ogbe, along with help from Local 174 Trustee Adam Murphy, Business Agent Michael Walker, IBT Organizers Tom McKibbin and Sal Abrica, and the entire staff and leadership of Local 174. Once the group was organized, they had masterful negotiators Rick Hicks and Patty Warren fighting for them at the bargaining table. But above all, they need to thank themselves and each other for standing together to get this done. This is a great contract we can all be proud of.”

The new contract victory is not just groundbreaking in its own right; it is also the first organizing victory at APP/World Fuel Services, and the first organizing victory that led to a contract ratification in the Teamsters’ Tankhaul Division in decades.

“This contract will open up new organizing opportunities in this industry,” said Rick Hicks. “The agreement sets a standard, and other tankhaul companies, especially AmeriGas, should take note.” AmeriGas drivers voted to join Teamsters Local 174 in September of 2016, and have been fighting for a first contract ever since. They voted unanimously in favor of a strike action in March of 2017.

“We are thrilled with this outcome,” said Darren Foreman, who has worked at APP for over 18 years. “Through this whole process, we had one goal in mind: to become members of Teamsters Local 174 and get one of Teamsters Local 174’s industry-leading contracts. We did that, and we couldn’t be happier.”

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.

Locals 174 and 313 Will Negotiate Together to Reach a Strong First Contract with Safeway.

January 4, 2018

In September, a group of nearly 70 Safeway.com home delivery drivers became the first in the nation to organize with a Union after voting to join Teamsters Local 174. Yesterday, the group of Safeway.com Teamsters swelled to 100 as another 30 drivers represented by Teamsters Local 313, based in Tacoma, WA, joined Local 174 at the table.

The newest Teamster drivers, who are dispatched out of Safeway stores in Milton and Canyon Road, had a relatively quick road to unionization after Local 174 Director of Negotiations Patty Warren leveraged the ongoing negotiations with Local 174 to secure a card check neutrality agreement with Safeway. This agreement meant that the drivers were able to simply sign cards to join the Teamsters, rather than going through a grueling and lengthy anti-union campaign and secret ballot election.

Now that the drivers have joined Local 313, the two Teamster Locals have come together at the bargaining table to jointly negotiate a first contract with Safeway. The drivers look forward to achieving a contract which they hope will solve some of the daily problems they face on the job.

“We are proud to stand united with our Brothers and Sisters at Local 313 to get a great first contract for these drivers,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Safeway has already seen firsthand that we will fight together to get what is best for all Teamsters, and they will continue to see that as these negotiations continue.”

“This organizing victory shows the incredible strength of solidarity between Teamsters,” said Teamsters Local 313 Secretary-Treasurer Bob McDonald. “No matter which Local Union we belong to, when we stand together, we stand strong.”

Joint negotiations between Safeway and Teamsters Locals 174 and 313 began today, and will continue until a satisfactory agreement is reached between all the parties. Local 174 had previously been negotiating with Safeway for several months.

Group of Drivers is First in the Nation to Organize with a Union

September 6, 2017

Almost seventy delivery drivers at Safeway.com voted today to join Teamsters Local 174, a historic victory with potentially wide-ranging effects as these are the first Safeway.com delivery drivers in the nation to vote to join a Union.

The organizing drive, which took place over several months and was spearheaded by Local 174 Organizer Meaza Ogbe and Safeway.com delivery driver Dan Oliver, reached its conclusion today as votes were counted at the National Labor Relations Board.

“This is huge for us. Everyone at this company was a Union member except for us,” said Safeway.com driver and lead Organizing Committee member Dan Oliver. “And it was clear from our compensation, benefits, and the way we were treated at work that not being Union was hurting us. All of that is going to change now.”

“I am so proud of these guys for standing up for their rights,” said Local 174 Organizer Meaza Ogbe. “It takes courage to stand up to your Employer and demand respect, and these guys had courage to spare.”

The organizing victory comes at a critical moment in the home grocery delivery industry, as Seattle-based product delivery juggernaut Amazon has recently purchased the upscale grocery chain Whole Foods.

“This is not just a big win for these Safeway.com drivers, but this is a foot in the door for other organizing opportunities in this same industry in the future,” said Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Home grocery delivery is a growing industry, and from this day forward, it is going to be an industry that includes the Teamsters Union.”

Teamsters Local 174 already represents Safeway distribution center drivers who operate out of Safeway’s facilities in Auburn and Bellevue delivering groceries to stores across the state, along with dispatchers and employees at the Recycle Center in Auburn. These members are glad to welcome their new Brothers and Sisters into the Teamsters Union.

“Safeway drivers and warehousemen in our Local just ratified the richest contract in their history, while these Safeway.com drivers are struggling just to get enough hours to qualify to buy company health insurance,” said Local 174 Senior Business Agent Carl Gasca, who is the Business Agent for the Safeway distribution center drivers and will be the Business Agent for the newly-organized group as well. “Now that we are all standing together, I know that we can get a better deal and a better life for these home delivery drivers.”

“I am so excited for what the future holds for us,” said new Safeway.com Teamster Candice Herrera. “There’s nowhere for us to go but up.”

Now that the group has officially voted to join the Teamsters, the next step is for the Union and the Company to sit together and negotiate a first contract for the drivers, who deliver customers’ grocery orders from Safeway stores directly to their homes, on a strict timeline to preserve the groceries’ freshness.

“This just-in-time, right-to-your-home delivery system is not just the next step for the grocery industry – it’s the next step for the entire package delivery industry,” said Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “This is the future, and it is a future in which Teamsters Local 174 will be an active participant.”

“This is just the beginning,” he continued. “Other home delivery drivers are watching, and they are going to see how much benefit these Safeway.com drivers will get from being members of Teamsters Local 174. We hope that they will also find the courage to stand up and say ‘I demand respect’ at their workplaces. And if they do, we will be ready to help them.”

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.

Illegally Fired Mechanics Reinstated with Back Pay After Teamsters Intervene

May 30, 2017

When Bill Adams received notice from his employer telling him he didn’t have a job anymore, the last thing he expected was for his story to end with a more than $11,000 payday and a new job somewhere even better. But because of the Teamsters Union, that is exactly what happened.

Adams, who had been a mechanic at carhaul company Selland Auto Transport for 12 years, was called into the shop manager’s office on December 6, 2016 along with two of his coworkers and told that it was their last day of work. “My stomach just dropped right out of me,” Adams said. “I was totally caught off guard that this was happening.”

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April 28, 2017

Teamsters Local 174 is proud to welcome the Washington State Patrol Communications Managers to our membership. Prior to joining the Teamsters, the nine workers in the group – who oversee all the 911 operations for the entire Washington State Patrol – were members of their own Guild called the Washington State Patrol Communications Managers Association. However, they decided in March of 2017 to join Teamsters Local 174 after realizing that they would have far more say on the job with the power of the Teamsters at their backs.

“There is a tremendous amount of value in having professional negotiators on your side,” said Jo Baumgartner, former President of the group’s Guild. “It’s hard when you’re arguing directly with your boss. With help from the Teamsters, we hope to secure better contracts with stronger language to protect us and better wage increases than we would have gotten on our own.”

The Communications Managers will be included in the Teamsters Public Services Division. They will join our other Washington State Patrol group, the CVE04 Commercial Vehicle Enforcement workers.

“We always say that Local 174 has the best contracts, which these employees saw firsthand during their last round of negotiations,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Now they will get to benefit from the strength that comes from being part of a group of nearly 8,000 people, rather than a group of just nine.”

“There’s strength in numbers, but even more than that, there’s strength in being a Teamster,” Baumgartner said. “We are so excited to be a part of that.”

January 13, 2017

Our organizing campaign at the Recology/CleanScapes Multi-Resource Facility (MRF) didn’t just start small – it started tiny. When the facility in Seattle first opened, the company employed nothing but temps. Workers came and went at random, and convincing any of them to join our Union bordered on the impossible. That is, until we caught a lucky break one day in June of 2015.
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 January 9, 2017

In a major organizing victory for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Western Region Tank Haul Division, APP/World Fuel Service drivers voted to join Teamsters Local 174. Despite a strong anti-union campaign by APP, a majority of the 90 person unit voted on November 3, 2016 in favor of Union representation.

“We are excited to welcome our newest members to the Teamsters Local 174 family,” said Dave Jacobsen, Western Region Tank Haul Director and Local 174 Senior Business Agent. “We have waited far too long for this victory. This is a prime example of the success we can have when the Local Union, the Division, the Joint Council and the International all work together to organize the unorganized.”
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