A week after 86 Teamsters Local 174 members at CalPortland walked off the job, the union reached a contract agreement with five sand and gravel companies Friday morning.

Teamsters Local 174 spokesperson Jamie Fleming called the deal “great news.”

“The concrete industry in Seattle will be back to normal very shortly,” Fleming said in an email.

More than 90 percent of the 246 voting Teamsters approved the new deal, Fleming said.

The approved four-year contract includes “record-setting wage increases, increases in pension contributions, and full maintenance of benefits for healthcare over the entire length of the contract,” according to a Teamsters’ press release. “Most importantly of all, it includes language that protects Teamster work in King County from being undercut by drivers brought in from outlying areas at lower wage rates.”

On Aug. 11, nearly 90 union members from CalPortland took to the picket lines at locations in Kenmore, Seattle and Snoqualmie. CalPortland was one of five sand and gravel companies the union had been in negations with, including Stoneway, Salmon Bay Sand & Gravel, Cadman and Lehigh Cement.

Earlier this week, mediated negotiations broke down and the rest of the nearly 300 Teamsters prepared to go on strike.

Teamsters had alleged that the sand and gravel companies refused to bargain in good faith, refused to provide information necessary for bargaining and rejected proposals without explanation or counter-offer.

“We are incredibly proud of the strength and dedication our members showed during this

difficult process,” Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks said in a press release. “A strike is hard on everyone involved, and our CalPortland members held the picket lines with courage and with patience. Without their sacrifice, we could never have gotten this incredible contract. They are an

inspiration to us all.”

The Reporter reached out to CalPortland early Friday afternoon and is awaiting the company’s response.

Negotiations began July 17.

The Reporter will update this story as more information becomes available.