No relief in sight for construction projects affected by glassworkers' strike

The 15-day strike by 700 members of a construction union continues and it's unclear when the standoff will end.

The strike by Glaziers, Architectural Metal and Glassworkers Local 188 is slowing progress at some developments across the Puget Sound region, though other trades are on the job with only window installation at a halt, Local 188 Business Representative Jed Nannery said Friday.

The two sides met Wednesday with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and exchanged proposals but no agreement was reached, according to Nannery and attorney Mara Vinnedge, who represents 13 glass companies. The mediators stopped the talks and sent both sides home.

The mediators' opinion "was any more back and forth was just going to make everybody angry so it was a good time to quit," Nannery said. He added that the union hopes to meet again by the middle of next week, though if a deal is reached the rank and file wouldn't be able to vote on it until Friday or Saturday.

"Everything's up in the air right now," Nannery said.

A huge amount of construction is occurring in the region, especially in downtown Seattle. Molly Barry, a senior project manager for Turner Construction, said at least 90 percent of the projects in downtown Seattle have been affected, KOMO News reported.

Some projects have escaped the effects of the strike. One is the Mark, a 43-story hotel and office tower going up in Seattle. Project developer Kevin Daniels said that's because the glass subcontractor has a national agreement with the glaziers.

Local 188s's collective bargaining agreement with glass companies expired June 30, and the two sides have been bargaining since May. An agreement was reached, and the union recommended accepting the deal, though members voted not to.

The Western Washington Glass Contractors Multi-Employer Group said it had proposed an increase that would equal an additional $8.50 in wages and benefits per hour over four years. This would bring the hourly package, including medical coverage and pension contributions, to $64.66 by 2019, and would mean a typical full-time glazier would earn wages and benefits equal to $130,000 a year, before overtime, according to the group.

Nannery said the union accepted a wage freeze four years ago, and then took lower-than-average cost-of-living adjustments. Now that the industry is booming, union members want to share in the good times, he said.

Source: Puget Sound Business Journal