Seattle WA, August 14, 2017  –  On the morning of August 11, 2017 at approximately 7:00 a.m., Teamsters Local 174 instructed CalPortland® (company) mixer drivers to walk off the job on strike leaving dozens of projects in jeopardy and resulting in untold financial damages throughout the City of Seattle and the surrounding area. Some mixer trucks loaded with perishable concrete, were simply abandoned by drivers at plants, setting in motion the potential for damage to company property that required additional handling and safety measures to extract the concrete while it could still be managed. Other loaded mixer trucks were returned to local plants where the mixed plastic concrete was off-loaded through additional salvage and recycling efforts to properly handle returned material.

The company has been in discussions with Local 174 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters regarding its members who are employed at the company’s Seattle area ready mixed concrete and aggregate operations. CalPortland participated at the negotiating table with Teamsters Local 174 along with three other ready mixed concrete employers in the area.

CalPortland and its representatives have continued to engage the union professionally and in good faith. At the union’s request, the company met with union members and a mediator on August 2, 2017, but attempts to reach a fair and competitive agreement for all parties were again unsuccessful. Proposals put forth by the union continue to be unrealistic and economically unsustainable.

The company is astonished by the union’s decision to strike in advance of the mutually scheduled negotiations set for early this week. False accusations by Teamsters Local 174 regarding the company being in violation of federal labor law and failing to bargain in good faith are unfounded and detract from the bargaining process. Further negotiations with a mediator are scheduled to resume with the parties on Tuesday August 15, 2017.

About CalPortland

CalPortland Company is a major producer of cement, ready mixed concrete, aggregates, concrete products and asphalt in the western United States and Canada. Founded in 1891 with the principle of providing unsurpassed quality, CalPortland remains a leader in the industry through its commitment to quality, safety, customer service, technical excellence and environmental leadership. The company maintains its headquarters in Glendora, California and operates in the Western U.S. and two Canadian Provinces. For more information about CalPortland Company, visit www.calportland.com.