Solidarity: Concrete Reality for Washington Operating Engineers

by Mike Hall, Aug 18, 2006

There are cynics out there who probably think “solidarity” is just some old slogan. But to the members of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 302 in Seattle, it’s a concept important enough to strike over.

The 100 workers went on strike July 31 against four Seattle-area concrete companies when negotiations for a new contract failed. The main sticking point? The workers want the right to honor other unions’ picket lines.

Allan Darr, business manager for Local 302, says:

We don’t want to limit our federal rights and our ability to show solidarity with our fellow workers. We should have the right given us under federal law to honor picket lines.

Darr says all other unions at the struck plants have contract language allowing them to honor picket lines, as did IUOE members in their previous contracts. He says the union has made five different proposals during the talks, which included a federal mediator:

I do not believe they are serious about resolving this through mediation. They need to come to the table with an offer with both the language and the economics that can settle this.

The four companies supply concrete, sand, gravel and work for area construction projects.

For more information, check out the Washington State Labor Council’s daily news summary, WSLC Reports Today.

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (0)