EVERETT — Heavy equipment operators and other construction workers put down their picket signs after union leaders reached a tentative labor agreement with contractors in Western Washington.
Construction at many Snohomish County projects, idled by the labor dispute, is expected to resume next week. Project coordinators around the area were cheered by the deal.
“I’m thrilled that the labor disagreement has been resolved and that the construction of the new Everett Y facility will resume Monday morning,” Scott Washburn, president and CEO of the YMCA of Snohomish County, said Friday.
Work on the new $33 million YMCA facility at 4730 Colby Ave. stalled when the strike began Aug. 21.
The Associated General Contractors of Washington (ACG) said it reached a tentative agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302. The union represents concrete pumpers, pavers, crane operators, pile driver operators and other heavy equipment operators.
“Daren Konopaski, business manager of Local 302, has directed his members to return to work immediately,” ACG said on its website Friday.
Local 302’s website directed members to cease picketing and return to regular work status effective Sept. 7.
Union members will now vote on the tentative agreement. Details about the deal were not immediately available.
The work stoppage slowed or halted progress at apartment high-rises, road improvement projects, school upgrade projects and other construction sites throughout Western Washington and Snohomish County.
Developers and project directors feared the labor dispute might extend into the region’s rainy season, causing further construction delays.
The Everett YMCA construction project, a high school upgrade in Lake Stevens and a long- awaited renovation at the Snohomish County Courthouse were among local projects affected by the strike.
Work on the YMCA project is expected to resume Monday. The 60,000 square-foot facility will include two swimming pools, an indoor track, a full-size gym and a permanent space for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Snohomish County.
“While we are still assessing the strike’s effect on the schedule, we are optimistic that most of the lost time can be made up over the next few months in order for us to still complete and open the new Y in early fall of 2019,” said Washburn, of the YMCA.
Some construction sites reported Friday that workers were already back on the job.
Work on the planned Hotel Indigo at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place resumed Friday, said Lisa Lefeber, the port’s acting executive director.
A $36 million construction project to make critical upgrades to the port’s South Terminal container dock restarts next week, Lefeber said. “They will be back to work Monday,” Lefeber said.
A construction project at Fisherman’s Harbor also is expected to resume Monday, she said.
Repairs to Paine Field’s main runway, slated to get under way in late August, had to be rescheduled for September and then again for October, Paine Field spokesman Scott North said. The 9,010-foot runway was in need of further repairs after recent maintenance.
Janice Podsada; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3097. Twitter: JanicePods.
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