Teamsters prepare to strike over management’s unreasonable refusal to live up to their word

After months of court battles over a contract that should have been settled, drivers at Huttig Building Products have run out of patience for their Employer’s delay tactics, voting unanimously to authorize a strike this weekend. The group of 18 drivers have been working under an expired Agreement since January 1, of 2020, and Huttig has spent the past fifteen months fighting in court to avoid giving the workgroup access to affordable healthcare despite their obligation and promise to do so. The workgroup responded by voting unanimously to authorize a strike.

“I find it ridiculous that Huttig would choose this hill to die on, when it would cost them so little to honor their obligation and provide the healthcare our members need and treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “At this point, they’ve probably spent more on legal fees fighting against their employees than they would have spent giving them the healthcare they deserve and that management agreed to provide. Unfortunately, it seems the ‘principle’ of getting one over on their workers is more valuable to them than honoring their agreements, taking care of their workforce, and having labor peace. It makes no sense to me.”

“A strike is always our last resort, but we have reached that point where it is time to call the question, so our hope is that management will come to their senses and follow through on what they had previously agreed to do,” Hicks concluded.

Now that a strike has been authorized, one can be called 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.