BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Union workers at Bellingham Cold Storage have gone on a 30 hour strike after negotiations failed to bring a contract agreement.
Members of Teamsters Local 231 in Bellingham had voted to authorize a strike and leaders called for the action at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 18th.
Secretary-Treasurer Rich Ewing says they had hoped to continue negotiations and avoid a walk-off.
But he claims the company hasn’t been willing to talk after making what President and CEO Doug Thomas said was their last, best offer.
Workers’ are unhappy with the company’s demands for health care cost sharing, retirement pay and other issues.
They plan to stay off the job and on the picket line in front of the seafood storage and distribution facility until 5 p.m. Saturday, June 19th.
Ewing says they’ll take stock of where negotiations are after the limited strike before deciding their next move.