Local 117 members at Lineage are fired up and ready to strike. 

Teamsters employed at a Lineage Logistics cold storage facility in Seattle, at their Michigan Street location, moved closer to a strike this week in protest of the company’s alleged violations of federal labor law. The 44 members of Teamsters 117 voted overwhelmingly to reject what Lineage is calling its “last, best, and final” contract proposal after a meeting at the Teamsters Union Hall in Tukwila on Saturday, June 21.

“Lineage continues to disrespect its hardworking employees and is recklessly flouting its obligations under federal law,” said Paul Dascher, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 117. “This vote shows these workers are ready to fight back against the company’s unlawful practices. If the current trajectory continues and Lineage refuses to negotiate in good faith, we won’t hesitate to take strike action to defend our members’ legal and contractual rights.”

Since negotiations began in January, Teamsters Local 117 has filed multiple Unfair Labor Practices against Lineage with the National Labor Relations Board. The union alleges the company has unlawfully engaged in direct dealing with its workers over furloughs, misrepresented worker eligibility for health and welfare coverage, and unilaterally changed working conditions without fulfilling its obligation to bargain. Lineage employees have been working under an expired contract since March 31.

Shop Steward James LeDahl and his co-workers are tired of the company's scare tactics and manipulation.

“It’s frustrating,” said James LeDahl, a shop steward on the union’s negotiation committee. “It’s like the company just doesn’t care. They wrote a misleading letter about unemployment, and five of our members have been out of work for a month with no pay. They keep trying to get away with stuff. I feel like we’re getting slapped in the face.”

Workers have condemned scare tactics used by the company during negotiations as blatantly anti-union, saying Lineage is trying to force them into accepting an agreement that doesn’t respect its workers. Lineage has projected terms of its offer in the breakroom and sent letters to the workers’ homes about negotiations, which workers say have had a chilling and intimidating effect on their families.

“They don’t care about us or about maintaining industry standards so they’re trying to force us into accepting an inferior deal,” LeDahl said. “But the way the vote went, it’s clear we’re ready to fight. We know we have the full support of our Local Union and International Teamsters Union if we need to strike and that’s huge. We’re ready to go.”

These proud Teamsters are ready to go!