Striking Glaziers Delay Some Window Work in Washington State

Goldfinch Brothers Glass Co.  may be doing fewer window replacements this week as a strike by glaziers makes it impossible for the company to install windows. The Everett, Wash., based company performs residential window replacements and commercial construction work.

Yesterday pickets appeared in front of Goldfinch Brothers Glass Co., according to myeverettnews.com. “Right now the retail store is open and they continue to schedule appointments to measure for glass and window replacements and to work on estimates for future new construction projects. The strike has affected the ability for Goldfinch to actually install windows and its trucks are parked,” reads the story.

The site also reported that there are 13 shops on strike in the Puget Sound area. The strike began on Friday and picketing began Wednesday.

The Western Washington Glass Contractors Multi-Employer Group issued a statement saying the collective bargaining agreement between the commercial glaziers represented by IUPAT DC#5 Local 188 and the Western Washington Glass Contractors Multi-Employer Group expired June 30, 2016.

“The parties have been in bargaining since May, 2016, meeting seven times, including a full day session with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service on June 29, 2016. The parties reached an agreement at the end of the mediation session which was recommended for ratification by the Union and the Union bargaining committee. However, on June 30, the Union membership voted to reject the Employers’ offer and instead chose to go on strike, beginning July 1, 2016,” said the statement.

The Employer Group added that it “made a fair and substantive offer, as evidenced by the Union Committee’s recommendation, and the fact that the offer was in line with, or greater than, the settlements of most other trades in our region.”

“Specifically, the Employer Group proposed an increase amounting to an additional $8.50 per hour over four years, bringing the hourly package (which includes full family medical coverage and pension contributions) to $64.66 by July 1, 2019. This would mean that by 2019, an average full time glazier, before overtime, would receive a wage and benefit package equaling $130,000.00 per year,” read the statement.

The Group is hopeful that an agreement will be reached quickly and the work stoppage will end. The parties will be meeting with Federal Mediators later this week.