Endless stall tactics by company management leave few alternatives to a widespread concrete industry strike

The five concrete companies who have been dragging their way through negotiations for a new Teamster contract today introduced yet another stall tactic, making clear that their goal is to slow negotiations to a crawl. The continued glacial movements from management at the bargaining table come less than a week after a unanimous strike authorization vote by the Teamsters Local 174 members who deliver concrete for Stoneway Concrete, Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel, CalPortland, Cadman, and Lehigh Cement. At this point, a strike appears inevitable, and will halt the work of nearly 300 Teamster members while crippling the construction industry throughout the Puget Sound area.

Negotiations abruptly ended early today when management walked away from the table after refusing to respond to the Union’s latest proposal, which was delivered this morning. They announced that they would only continue to negotiate if the Teamsters agreed to mediation – an illegal demand solely intended to further slow negotiations.

“It seems for some odd reason they are trying to bait us into a fight, which makes no sense with the current extreme labor shortage, backlog of work and continuing high demand in the construction industry, and the sacrifices our members have made during this pandemic – while management continues to line their pockets,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “We have had more than enough of their callous refusal to care even a little bit about what their employees go through every day. At this point, I would say a strike is not just imminent – it is inevitable.”

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.