Teamsters at Huttig build strike signs after voting unanimously to strike on April 15.

Union and community members across the Puget Sound area are invited to join workers at Huttig for a solidarity rally this Friday in their fight against the company’s intimidation and surveillance tactics.

A Union Rally to Stop Huttig Intimidation will begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 5 at Huttig’s warehouse facility, 525 C St. in Auburn. Speakers at the May 5 rally will include WSLC President April Sims, WSLC Secretary Treasurer Cherika Carter, City of Auburn Councilmember (and former WSLC President) Larry Brown, Teamsters 117 Secretary-Treasurer John Scearcy, and rank-and-file Huttig leaders. Parking is limited, so please consider carpooling to the event.

On April 15, the group of 36 millwork and warehouse workers at Huttig/Woodgrain voted unanimously to strike in protest of the company’s ongoing violations of federal labor law during contract negotiations, including unlawful surveillance and intimidation of workers. Workers say they will not let the company intimidate them into accepting a substandard contract.

“After the Woodgrain buyout, they told us nothing was going to change, that everything was going to stay status quo. They haven’t held to their word,” said Alex Boynton, a Teamster shop steward and seven-year Huttig/Woodgrain employee. “They’ve pushed their agenda and now they’re trying to intimidate us into accepting a substandard contract, but it’s not going to happen.”