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Crane operators could strike this week in Western Washington

Crane operators and paving crews in much of our state could be going on strike this week if contract negotiations fall through.

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 chapter posted an announcement on their website, detailing a union member vote on Monday. If members vote down a new labor agreement with the Associated General Contractors of Washington, then work will stop early Tuesday morning.

The strike would pertain to Local 302 union members working under the Washington Master Labor Agreement.

According to the union’s website, if a vote on Monday approves the strike:

"Effective at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, there will be an immediate economic stand down for all Western Washington Master Labor Agreement work.  This means that all members of Local 302 working under the Washington Master Labor Agreement are expected to withhold their labor, and not report to work, for the duration of the strike."

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Not all crane operators and paving crews are included in strike consideration. Crews working for Skanska, for example, are excluded.

The strike comes as Seattle leads the nation in the number of construction cranes in the air. Seattle ranks 11th in the nation, when it comes to the number of new apartments it is producing. Redmond is delivering apartments at a greater rate than Seattle.

Click here to read the full story on mynorthwest.com