Thousands of construction workers to start strike Thursday
Sep 14, 2021, 7:54 AM
A general view of Climate Change Arena as it undergoes construction in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Thousands of Washington construction workers are planning to go on strike Thursday, after members of the Northwest Carpenters Union voted to reject the latest offer from Associated General Contractors.
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The union says the strike could impact some local construction projects. That includes the Microsoft campuses in Redmond and Sammamish, and the new Bellevue Plaza. Other projects, like Climate Pledge Arena, are protected from strikes.
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On Saturday, 56% of the union membership rejected the Western Washington Area Master Agreement TA #4 and voted to go on strike. The contract extension expires Sept. 15.
The rejected agreement would have included: 20.4% total package (wages and benefits) increase over four years; pay increases retroactive to June 1, 2021; increase employer contributions to health care and pension funds; stronger harassment and discrimination protections; expanding parking reimbursements near certain sites; and increased employer contributions to training and apprenticeship programs.
Find more information on the AGC offer here. Read the letter the Northwest Carpenters Union sent to its members about the strike here.
