Six hundred Teamsters Local 96 members at Washington Gas have won a new contract with record wage increases of 18 percent after mobilizing a contract campaign. The victory came after members voted by 98.2 percent to authorize a strike at the natural gas utility that serves Washington D.C. and surrounding areas.

The strike authorization vote was the culmination of a contract campaign led by a Contract Action Team of volunteers from each worksite.

Contract Campaign Actions

Members set the union’s bargaining priorities by filling out a contract survey and wore Teamster buttons and hats to work everyday to make their solidarity visible. 

The union updated members multiple times a week by text and held bargaining update meetings that were attended by over 200 members. 

For weeks of negotiations, management insisted that concessions to reduce paid time off and eliminate layoff protections were deal-breakers. Two weeks before expiration, management was still dug in and members knew they had to escalate. 

The Contract Action Team held parking lot meetings at every major station with signs declaring, “Ready to Strike if We Have To.”

“Knowing that the International Union is backing members with strike benefits of $1,000 a week gave us a shot in the arm and helped us win the contract we deserved,” said Rodney Banks, a member of the WGL Contract Action team.

Defeating Givebacks, Winning Improvements

After the first round of parking lot meetings, WGL management took their PTO and layoff proposals off the table, but were still offering a wage increase that was unacceptable. 

Members voted 446-12 to authorize a strike. The very same day WGL management agreed to 18 percent wage increases with 5 percent in the first year of the contract. 

The contract also adds Christmas Eve as a holiday, new language to protect members from unfair discipline, more money for essential gear, and the right to take personal days with one hour’s notice twice a year. 

A special virtual meeting was held to brief members on how the raises and contract changes would impact them. 

Members voted 396 to 89 to approve the contract, ratifying the contract by 82 percent. Over 97 percent of voting-eligible members cast ballots, with 485 out of 499 members voting to lock in the largest raises in Local 96 history.

“This agreement represents what can be accomplished when our membership stands united,” Executive Board member Cameron Shifler said. “Through solidarity we secured the richest contract in WGL history — delivering an 18% wage increase over five years and retaining our PTO.”