Deal struck to end Seattle-area strike

A labor agreement was reached on Friday that ends a strike by concrete-delivery truck drivers in King County, Washington, reports The Seattle Times. Construction projects in the Seattle area had been slowed owing to the strike.

The report says more than a fourth of the county’s union concrete truck drivers had walked off the job, and the rest were getting ready to join them. This halted projects, including replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in downtown Seattle.

The Seattle Times says the local Teamsters union representing the 300 drivers had reached a deal with the five concrete suppliers that employ the workers. The contract was voted on by Local 174 members at CalPortland, Cadman, Stoneway Concrete, Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel, and Lehigh Cement. The Teamsters union says the new four-year contract includes record-setting wage increases and increased benefits.

Jeff Sieg, director of corporate communications at Lehigh Hanson, adds, “I am pleased to say that the negotiations with Local 174 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters were successful, and a new collective bargaining agreement has been ratified by the union. That we were able to reach an agreement without a work stoppage [by our company’s workers] is good news for our employees, our customers and the company.”