The Northwest Carpenter’s Union rejected a fourth offer to increase wages and now construction workers are on strike.
SEATTLE — Members of the Northwest Carpenter’s Union, which represents more than 28,000 construction workers and craftspeople across the region, began a strike Thursday after the union rejected proposed wage increases from the Associated General Contractors (AGC), a national group representing contractors.
It was the fourth time the union rejected the AGC’s offer. The latest iteration would have given more than 20% wage and benefits increases over four years, increased employer contributions to health care and pensions, and provide stronger harassment and discrimination protections, among other things.
The strike, while not affecting projects that involve taxpayer dollars like Climate Pledge Arena or Sound Transit developments, could delay project sites in Redmond, Bellevue and Sammamish.
For instance, the Microsoft Corporate Campus in Redmond is undergoing refurbishments that include the replacement of 12 older office buildings with 17 new buildings spaced into five different villages. The project, which isn’t scheduled to be complete for at least…
