Workers picket construction sites across Tri-Cities as strike enters 4th day
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- IUOE Local 302 strike entered day four.
- Picketing slowed or halted construction at multiple Tri-Cities job sites
- Previous union ballots rejected contract offers.
A strike by heavy equipment operators entered its fourth day Friday with negotiations at an apparent impasse.
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 went on strike Tuesday after members apparently rejected contract offers by Associated General Contractors in June and again in August. The strike has slowed or halted construction in the Tri-Cities and Eastern Washington.
Details about the dispute are unclear. Neither the union nor AGC has commented on sticking points or provided clarity about how many workers are on strike and how many job sites are affected.
The union said a Thursday meeting was fruitless in a public social media post. The next session is set for Aug. 18.
“The AGC did not increase its economic position. No progress was made,” the union said after the Aug. 14 meeting.
Construction site strikes
Striking union workers from Apollo Inc., Fowler Construction and other shops picketed work sites in Kennewick, Pasco and Richland during the week. Workers gathered in small groups of five to six who chose low-visibility locations.
Apollo Inc. workers picketed the Horn Rapids Landfill, site of a gas collection system project, in Richland. The shut down of a privately-funded project to build two roundabouts at Badger South in Richland prompted the city to reopen the affected intersections.
Workers from Fowler Construction picketed two A-1 Hospitality construction sites. — Home2 Suites near the airport entrance and the AC Marriott at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. The local hotel operator hired Fowler to build hotels in both Pasco and Kennewick.
Taran Patel, managing principal for A-1, said construction schedules have not been impacted.
“We understand that labor negotiations can be complex, and we remain hopeful that both parties will reach a fair and mutually beneficial resolution soon,” he told the Tri-City Herald.
Picketers said they were ordered not to discuss the strike with outsiders, saying they’ve been cautioned that the wrong comment could create legal issues.
IUOE Local 302 submitted ballots to its members in both June and July. It posted that 85% of ballots returned in June rejected the AGC offer.
A second ballot was mailed in late July and votes were counted Aug. 11. Results were not shared publicly, the strike began a day later.
A National Labor Relations Board case search did not reveal current disputes involving IUOE Local 302.
This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM.