On February 18, 2022, Commissioner Hillman of King County Superior Court ruled on a request by the attorneys for the struck sand and gravel companies to shut down Local 174’s picketing.   The companies asked for Local 174’s members to be prohibited from physically being present at any time in the entrances or exits of the struck facilities, from coming within 6 feet of the companies’ or their customers’ vehicles, from making inappropriate verbal statements while at the picket line, from making threats, and an extensive laundry list of other activities which the companies claimed, without convincing evidence, that the Union and its members have engaged in.

The companies’ request for relief was mostly denied.  The court did not find any basis to enjoin almost all of the things the companies were complaining about, and instead issued an even-handed injunction applicable to both parties, the Union and the companies.  The order the court said it intends to sign, but which it hasn’t yet signed, is likely to include the following restrictions:

• The Union and its members are prohibited from interfering or preventing trucks from entering the struck facilities (primarily out of the fear that delayed trucks could potentially back up into public roadway)
• The Union and its members may delay for up to 2 minutes the exit from a struck facility of every vehicle with more than four wheels
• There is no limit on the number of picketers the Union can have at any location
• There is no limit on the time period during which the picketers can be present
• There is no limit on bullhorns, sirens, or other noisemakers
• Both sides are obligated to make no threats against anyone
• The companies are ordered to not have or permit anyone to “charge” picketers in vehicles
• The companies are also ordered to inform all of their customers of these last two prohibitions.  The effect of that will be that the customers, too, will now be bound by the court’s injunction.

The Commissioner made it clear that the intent of the order is to make sure that the peace is not breached and that nobody is injured – neither the company’s people, the customers, or the picketers.  

This order will go into effect at some point on Tuesday, when the Commissioner signs it and the companies post a $10,000 bond.