Pasco leader urges contractors, union to talk as strike enters 2nd week

Pasco City Councilman Leo Perales has asked Associated General Contractors to “come back to the table” and negotiate with equipment operators amid a strike that has slowed or idled work in the Tri-Cities and across Eastern Washington.

“This dispute is not only halting progress on vital public works projects, it is also impacting the families of the workers who depend on these jobs to provide for their loved ones,” he wrote in a letter made public Tuesday as the strike entered its second week.

Perales encouraged other elected city leaders in the Tri-Cities to lend their support as the strike by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 continues to confound observers.

The letter is labeled “Standing with IUOE Local 302” and is addressed to Cheryl Stewart, president of AGC. Steward could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Neither side has commented publicly on the strike, negotiations or the sticking points. The dispute became public Aug. 12 after union members voted on AGC’s most recent offer, according to social media posts.

Silence continues

The silence continued Tuesday, after the strike appeared to take a baffling new turn. Work resumed at some sites while picketers continued to march outside others.

Richland said it was notified by Goodman & Mehlenbacher Enterprises (GAME Inc.) that work would resume construction on a pair of roundabouts on Dallas Road, at Trowbridge and Ava after being halted last week.

The privately funded project helps with increased traffic in Richland’s Badger South area. The city referred questions to the union.

In Pasco, picketers disappeared from the sidewalk behind the site where Fowler Construction is building the Home2 Suites, and from a construction entrance at the south end of the Tri-Cities Airport.

In Kennewick, however, picketers continued to demonstrate outside the Three Rivers Convention center, where Fowler is building a privately-funded AC Marriott Hotel for A-1 Hospitality.

Perales said he didn’t have any special insights into the dispute beyond his personal observations as a code-compliance inspector who works at road and building sites.

“I work on these projects,” he said. “A lot of my jobs are shut down.”

Perales said he was speaking for himself and that his views don’t reflect those of the city. His letter appeared on city letterhead and he signed it as a council member.

What other media are saying

Media across Eastern Washington have reported on local effects. Here is some of the regional coverage of the strike.

The Spokesman-Review in Spokane said several projects were affected, including maintenance on North Foothills Drive and a water main project. The newspaper said the strike appeared to be affecting the availability of asphalt needed for a wide variety of projects.

KHQ Local News confirmed via the Washington State Department of Transportation that the strike halted work on the North Spokane Corridor project. It noted other projects in Spokane and Idaho were affected as well.

The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin said the strike halted construction on the community’s Myra Road extension and Howard Street.

Pullman Radio said repaving Highway 195 near Pullman was shut down by the strike.

This story was originally published August 19, 2025 at 2:38 PM.

Wendy Culverwell

Tri-City Herald

Reporter Wendy Culverwell writes about growth, development and business for the Tri-City Herald. She has worked for daily and weekly publications in Washington and Oregon. She earned a degree in English and economics from the University of Puget Sound. Support my work with a digital subscription