City of Snohomish ratifies new Teamsters union contracts

Published 6:30 am Friday, July 3, 2026

EVERETT — Following controversy with the city’s previous administration, Snohomish ratified two new bargaining agreements with its workers’ Teamsters union.

After six months of negotiations last year, it was clear the city wanted to exclude a union pension from the new contracts, Teamsters representative Tammy Ayers said in October. On June 26, Snohomish announced two new contract ratifications that included increases in pension fund contributions and wages, a press release said.

“As I’ve said from the beginning, fiscal responsibility isn’t about always saying no to spending. It’s about understanding the difference between waste and smart investment,” Mayor Aaron Hoffman said in a release. “We preserved the pension because we recognize how important it is to the employees who serve our community every day.”

Teamsters Local 763 represents Snohomish’s Public Works and office-technical employees. Each department ratified a new contract effective Jan. 1, 2026 until the end of 2028, covering about 40 employees.

All are required to contribute to the Teamsters Pension Trust, which funds monthly retirement payments for life. Employees contribute $1.25 for each hour worked. Previously, the city contributed 25 cents per hour. Under the new contract, starting Monday, the city will contribute 35 cents per hour.

Wages were increased based on cost-of-living adjustments.

Last year, former Mayor Linda Redmon and Human Resources Director Rebekah Park told the union some employees were frustrated by how much money was deducted from their paychecks to fund the pension.

However, the union had received no request to eliminate the pension, Ayers said at the time.

In the 2025 mayoral election, Hoffman beat Redmon 52.7% to 47.2%.

“I would like to express my appreciation to the city’s new administration for engaging in negotiations with an open mind and a genuine willingness to listen to staff concerns,” said Joe Palmer, a public works employee, in a release. “We were able to reach a new Teamsters contract that aligns with the goals of both the city and its staff.”

The contracts prove what workers can accomplish when they refuse to back down, said Chad Baker, Teamsters Local 763 secretary and treasurer, in a release.

“Our members were clear from day one: they would not accept cuts to their retirement security,” he said.

Taylor Scott Richmond: 425-339-3046; taylor.richmond@heraldnet.com; X: @BTayOkay