January 31, 2020
Teamsters honor SEIU 1199NW picket lines at Swedish Medical Centers throughout the region
As the nurses and caregivers of Swedish Medical Centers officially end their strike after 72 hours on the street, Teamsters Local 174 would like to recognize and thank our members for their proud display of solidarity with the striking workers. Nearly 8,000 members of SEIU 1199NW walked off the job Tuesday morning in an Unfair Labor Practice strike, as their employer continued to refuse to bargain in good faith or address workers’ concerns – the largest of which is severe understaffing, and wages that make it difficult to attract workers to fix the staffing problems. Though their strike is over, the fight continues — and so must our support.
As workers at Swedish Medical Center First Hill walked out the front doors toward the picket line on Tuesday, they were immediately greeted by the Teamsters Local 174 tractor-trailer, lit up and parked on the shoulder of Broadway Avenue. The truck remained in place throughout the day and night, bringing comfort to the picketing nurses and caregivers.
Meanwhile, the truck was far from the only support provided by Local 174. Staff and members were present on picket lines in Edmonds, Issaquah, First Hill, and Redmond, marching with the picketers. Throughout the entire length of the strike, the striking workers’ spirits were bolstered by the sound of air horns, blasted by Teamster drivers passing the picket lines as they went about their work. And even more crucially, members of Local 174 who would normally provide trash pickup, package delivery, food delivery, and beverage delivery to the various struck facilities opted instead to honor the picket lines, refusing to service locations where the picket lines were active.
“True solidarity isn’t just talking the talk, it’s walking the walk,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “We are proud of our members for truly doing everything they could to support these striking workers as they faced the daunting prospect of walking off the job to fight for a strong contract.”
“Before the strike, we told these hardworking nurses and caregivers they would have our support, and we are glad to say we delivered on that promise,” Hicks continued. “Any time working men and women find themselves in a tough fight, they know they can count on the members of Teamsters Local 174 to help them win it.”
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.
