To: Detroit/Seattle Workers' Voice mailing list
February 17, 2022

Concrete workers strike for over two months
due to the arrogance of the construction industry capitalists

by Phil West, Seattle Workers’ Voice

More than 300 union truckers and concrete plant workers in Seattle struck in late 2021 because of failure to come to an agreement with six Puget Sound construction companies. The concrete haulers of Teamsters Local 174 had been working without a contract since the end of July. The companies had refused to put forward a contract that kept up with the current standard of living, and ignored the workers' request to include retiree health care, even when the union proposed to cover the expense. This strike, although it involves a somewhat limited number of workers, has had a major effect on the construction work going on in the Seattle area. [1]

The strike has brought many big construction projects in Seattle and surrounding cities to a standstill.[2] At first it was just directed at a single employer, but soon afterwards, it widened to become a general strike affecting the whole industry. The workers are feeling the effects of inflation and demand to be paid enough to meet these rising costs. But the employers are determined to hold wages to the previous level, and the battle has been very fierce. [3]

The employers previously played hardball with the carpenters during their strike last year, and with this lowball contract proposal to the concrete haulers, it would seem that a widespread attack against the building trades unions is in progress. When the union called in the Federal Mediation Service to assist the negotiations, the employer came the meeting unwilling to negotiate. [4]

The strike has caused many layoffs in the Puget Sound construction industry because most jobs cannot continue without concrete.  The construction bosses have tried to blame the concrete drivers for these layoffs, but the real cause is the obstinate attitude of the employers. [5]

Notes

1. Steve Leigh, “Concrete Drivers Shut Down Seattle Construction”, Socialist Resurgence, February 11, 2022.

2. Kim Kelley, “Concrete Actions Toward Worker Power”. The Nation, January 21, 2022.

3. Michael Sainato, “Seattle’s concrete workers strike over low wages and unfair labor practices”, The Guardian, January 26, 2022.

4. Teamsters Local 174, “No Progress Towards Resolution of Teamsters Local 174 Construction Strike as Employer Representatives Arrive to Mediation Unwilling to Negotiate”, PR Newswire, January 21, 2022.

5. Tushar Khurana, “Construction Stalls Across King County as Concrete Workers Strike for Fair Wages and Health Care”, South Seattle Emerald, February 2, 2022. <>

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