Concrete Solidarity Wins in Seattle

by Mike Hall, Aug 28, 2006

The “solidarity strike” by nearly 90 Seattle-area concrete workers who hit the picket lines July 31 seeking the right to honor other unions’ picket lines ended in victory last weekend. Workers ratified a three-year contract that includes the provision to honor picket lines.

Members of International Union of Operating Engineers (IOUE) Local 302 struck four concrete plants when management refused the workers’ demand that their right to respect other unions’ picket lines be restored. The contracts of other local unions included solidarity provisions, and such an agreement had been part of Local 302’s previous contracts.

Allan Dar, business manager for Local 302, says:

The story here is that 88 workers stood for their principles. They won the right to honor the picket lines of another trade. They stood for 25 days on that principle.

In bright red type on Local 302’s website, the union proclaims:

We did it for the principle.

We did it for future generations.

We did it because it’s our right.

We did it because it is right.

The new contract also raises wages by $3.95 an hour over three years. The four companies supply concrete, sand, gravel and work for area construction projects.

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