Ongoing Concrete Dispute Delays SR 520, West Seattle Bridge Work

SEATTLE — A prolonged labor dispute between hundreds of concrete workers and four King County companies is still unresolved, despite recent pleas from local leaders to hammer out a deal and prevent further delays to a slate of major projects.

The ongoing strike started late last year among 330 concrete laborers and has effectively halted concrete deliveries across the county since December. Earlier this month, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and other local leaders called on the companies to come back to the table and bargain with the union to avoid further impacts.

In Seattle, Harrell said the timeline to repair the West Seattle Bridge would be in jeopardy if a deal was not in place by Feb. 20. The bridge, typically one of the busiest roadways in Seattle, has been closed since early 2020 and repairs had been on track for completion this summer. Other major projects impacted include work on Sound Transit's East Link expansion, the Washington State Convention Center expansion and Microsoft's campus modernization project.

On Wednesday, the Washington State Department of Transportation said its State Route 520 projects faced mounting delays, prompting the cancellation of several weekends of ramp and highway work and likely extending to the Montlake lid project.

"The strike's effects include layoffs of contractor employees and the potential for increased taxpayer costs," WSDOT wrote. "WSDOT is working closely with King County, the city of Seattle, the Port of Seattle, Sound Transit, and the Washington State Convention Center to urge for a negotiated resolution of the dispute."

In a strongly-worded letter sent this week, the Teamsters Local #174 union again called on the companies to offer a deal that would resolve the strike.

"We are again demanding you and the Employers of the Companies you are representing return, in person, to the bargaining table and negotiate in 'good faith' to reach a deal that will end this ridiculous labor dispute," the letter reads in part. "Your actions have led to the loss of healthcare for your employees during a national pandemic after they worked tireless hours making you all millions in profits, destroyed the construction boom in our community and caused layoffs for thousands of skilled workers who have done nothing to deserve your unfair actions."