Mill Rock Teamsters have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.

With five charges pending, Mill Rock Packaging is racking up the ULPs. At its Renton facility, the company has been skimming bargaining unit work, surveilling workers, and trying to intimidate our members into accepting a substandard contract proposal. 

The anti-union posturing has resulted in major pushback from the 21-member bargaining unit. Workers rallied outside the warehouse last week, and on Saturday they voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. 

"We're ready to fight for a fair contract," said Jon Spitler, a pre-press technician, and three-year Teamster. "They are trying to strongarm us into accepting their proposal."

Just before Saturday's strike vote, Mill Rock management distributed copies of their contract proposal directly to employees, rebranding it as a "last, best, and final offer"—even though it was never presented as such at the bargaining table. The move backfired, drawing ULP charges for bad-faith bargaining and direct dealing, and fueling worker anger ahead of the vote.

"It's disrespect, said Harold Anderson, a pre-press lead who served on the union bargaining team. "It's not wanting to maintain a decent standard of living for your workers, it's maximizing corporate profit." 

Harold Anderson (l) and Jon Spitler (r) in the pre-press department say their group is ready to strike.  

Mill Rock's anti-union tactics date back nearly two years, when the company began diverting bargaining unit work out of the pre-press department. Since then, the Union has filed dozens of grievances to protect the work of our members. The skimming issue will be taken up at an arbitration hearing on February 10-11.

With violations at Mill Rock mounting, the Union has notified customers of a possible labor dispute. A bargaining session is scheduled for February 18, but members say they're prepared to walk if the company refuses to negotiate in good faith.     

"We feel disrespected, unappreciated, and angry," Anderson said. "We are absolutely ready to strike."