The months long strike by Local 174 of the Teamsters union, representing 330 concrete truck drivers is not over. But the drivers on Friday announced they were returning to work. In a statement released on their website they said:

"For months, the companies controlling Seattle’s concrete industry have stonewalled negotiations and rejected nine different proposals from Teamsters Local 174 that would support working families. On Friday, the 300+ ready-mix concrete and dump truck drivers and support staff offered an unconditional return to work starting on Monday for the people of Seattle. Meanwhile, negotiations for a new contract will continue.

“For months, the concrete companies have used their control over Seattle’s concrete industry to drag out negotiations, and it has been devastating for our community and for our sisters and brothers in the Building Trades,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer, Rick Hicks. “Our members love our community and are returning to work for the people of Seattle. We hope this very gracious offer means that the greedy concrete companies start negotiating in good faith and stop stonewalling negotiations, as they have for months. Teamsters are tough and returning to work will not keep us from continuing the fight to protect our community, the other Building Trades’ unions and good jobs in Seattle.” 

Some drivers remain unhappy with the current status telling Westside Seattle that they sat through a 14 hour negotiating session on  Wednesday, without any resolution. The drivers maintain that the companies could raise the cost of a yard of concrete, now somewhere between $120 to $250 each by 50 cents. They claim revenue from a price hike like that would more than cover their demands. It appears they are simply at an impasse.

One veteran driver said, "It was a little mixed this morning in our meeting. I believe it is the right thing to do. The companies would not budge even when we offered to take our retirees health and welfare out of the contract. We gave them 3 proposals Monday they turned them down. It was more important to us to put our brothers and sisters first along with public. We will continue to negotiate until we reach a fair deal. Sometimes doing the right thing and being patient is the thing to do."

The union has been working without a new contract since August of last year.