Over 100 striking construction and concrete workers bring protest activity to construction industry’s front yard

Yesterday morning, on the two-month anniversary of the start of their strike, a large group of Teamsters Local 174 members descended on the downtown Seattle headquarters of the Associated General Contractors to express displeasure at the organization for spreading misinformation about the strike. Carrying signs that read “Tell the Truth” and “Why are you Defending Bad Behavior,” the group protested for hours outside the building, marching, chanting, and engaging with passersby and media outlets.

At the heart of the protest was a letter sent from AGC Executive Vice President David D’Hondt to Teamsters Local 174 titled “IBT’s Failure to Accept Mediation.” The letter, along with several misleading and false statements from D’Hondt to media outlets, claimed that while the Employers of the striking workers have repeatedly requested federal mediation to assist in bargaining, the Union side has refused. This assertion is categorically false, which D’Hondt would have known had he made so much as a single phone call to the Teamsters. The workers also object to D’Hondt’s assertions that the strike violated Project Labor Agreements – a very serious false accusation that could lead to chaos, confusion, and unnecessary legal disputes for the Teamsters.

“At this point, you’re either working to help end the strike, or you are working to prolong it, and David D’Hondt’s letter absolutely falls into the latter category,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “This strike has gone on long enough and harmed enough people – from our members, to unionized and nonunion construction workers, to contractors, suppliers, and plenty more. What we need is for the Employers to come back to the table and negotiate a fair deal for the workers who have made them fortunes. What we do not need is an outside entity like the AGC wading in and spreading lies and false accusations that drive the two sides even farther apart.”

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.