On March 9, 2022, Teamsters Local 231 held our first-in-person General Membership and Initiates meetings in nearly 2 years. Guest speaker, Bob Trappe, DRIVE representative from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, spoke to the group about the need for DRIVE: The Teamsters political action committee that helps us safeguard against legislation that could hinder Teamster Jobs. Specifically, there was discussion over the large warehouses that Amazon is building in our area and how to make sure that those jobs are good family wage careers. The meeting was well attended and 13 new initiates were sworn in.

A huge thank you goes out to the Shop Stewards that attended the 2022, Teamsters Local 231 Shop Steward Seminar. Twenty-three of your hard-working Shop Stewards volunteered their Sunday morning to attend the workshop.

On January 21, 2022, by a unanimous vote, the membership at Bellingham Technical College ratified a 4-year agreement! This historic agreement provided an immediate market adjustment for all employees and significant raises in the successor years of the contract. This agreement also provided a ratification bonus for all employees.

Amid strong support from several Local Union members, Jobs with Justice, and the NWWCLC, the Ferndale City Council reversed their previous vote and unanimously approved the recently negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement with Teamsters Local 231. Over the past several months, the Union and the City Administration negotiated in good faith to reach a tentative agreement.

Teamsters Local 231 Members at Whatcom County PUD #1 have ratified a new contract that raises wages, adds 2 paid holidays, increases pension contributions and moves the group to the new retiree’s healthcare plan, with all benefits fully paid by the employer for the duration of the agreement. The wage increase for 2022 is 5%.

The Whatcom County Master Bargaining Unit overwhelmingly ratified a one-year contract extension. The contract extension includes a 3% wage increase, addition of the Juneteenth holiday, and full maintenance of Health & Welfare benefits. In addition, the County and the Union will be working on a collaborative market/comparable study in 2022, for use in bargaining a successor agreement for 2023.