Teamsters Local 117 represents thousands of members at many counties and municipalities in our region.  Stay informed by checking the latest news from Teamsters Local 117 members working in the public sector. If you are a Local 117 member working in the public sector, be sure to register for your Local Union's website to receive action alerts, email, and your Local Union's electronic newsletter, Teamster Talk. 

To contact your Business Representative, click here.

For the latest public sector updates:

• King County - news and updates
• Pierce County - news and updates
• City of Tacoma - news and updates

Local 117 public sector news articles and information:

• Teamsters vow to work with County to contain costs, solve structural mess (July 13, 2010)
• Tell the Seattle Times - Stop bashing County employees (June 17, 2010)
• County PT & A units ready for action (May 27, 2010) 
• King County Stewards to meet, strategize (May 5, 2010)
• Tacoma's Teamster asphalt save the city big bucks (February 28, 2010)
• King County WLRD case slated for arbitration (February 17, 2010)
• Teamsters at the Consortium receive full back pay and benefits (February 3, 2010)
• Teamsters reach tentative agreement with the PDA (February 1, 2010)
• Possible strike looms at Pike Place Market (January 28, 2010)
• Upgrade to Teamsters medical is a win for members, Pierce County (January 9, 2010)
• Teamsters take action against the PAF (December 8, 2009)
• King County Teamster vindicated in Local 117 arbitration win (December 3, 2009)
• Organizing lead yields reward for Local 117 members (December 1, 2009)
• Thompson defends County employees in Seattle Times editorial (August 26, 2009)
• Legislation protects public employees' retirement (July 1, 2009)
• Teamster arbitration victory puts market employee back to work (June 22, 2009)
• New King County unit files to leave TEA (June 4, 2009)
• Local 117 members recognized at SHA luncheon (May 19, 2009)
• Zoo furlough agreement (April 4, 2009)

Public Sector Overview

Teamsters Local 117 is one of the largest Teamsters Locals in the United States representing approximately 16,000 members in both the public and private sectors. Our size and diversity uniquely positions us to lobby and effectively advocate for our public sector members.

Because most public sector employees are denied by the law the right to strike, bargaining power and leverage must be developed in different arenas. Key to development of that leverage are our relationships with local, state, and federal elected leaders. Our relationships are based on the premise that in order to make positive changes in the working lives of the people we represent we must find ways to work with politicians. If necessary, we sometimes must exercise our numbers at the polls to ensure that issues of importance to working families are heard. Ultimately the success of our members in affecting public policy and change comes from an active and engaged membership, willing to become involved as part of a large and dynamic union.

General Information

Teamsters Local 117 members in the public sector work for a wide range of employers. From the Washington State Department of Corrections to cities and counties. If you are interested in employment in the public sector the following links may be of some help.

• King County
• Pierce County  
• City of Seattle
• City of Tacoma
• Teamsters Public Services Division
• Port of Seattle
• Washington State Convention and Trade Center 
• Washington State

• Washington State Department of Corrections

Retirment Benefits

Virtually all employees in the Public Sector in Washington State are covered under the State Retirement System known as PERS. Information about PERS can be found at: www.drs.wa.gov

If you are covered under a supplemental Teamsters pension plan, links to that can be found on the home page.

Political Action

Political action is crucial to making your voice heard. It is often said of public employees that they are the workers who get to vote for their bosses during each election cycle. During each cycle Teamsters Local 117, in conjunction with the rest of the labor movement, participates in the Labor-Neighbor program. Members fan out across their region to talk to other Union members regarding issues in the election and discuss the candidates involved. If you are interested in participating in this rewarding program please contact our Local's political coordinator Betty Sorbo at: betty@teamsters117.org or 206-441-4860 ext. 233 or Bob Francis at 253-272-9379

The Public Sector Representative Team 

Cynthia Adams: cynthia.adams@teamsters117.org or by phone at 206-441-4860 ext. 1235.

For past 15 years, Cynthia Adams has worked at King County in Finance and Administration of the Solid Waste Division. From 2006 to 2010, Cynthia was a shop steward and participated on bargaining teams, mediation team and the administration coalition team. Currently, as new business representative she plans to take her former knowledge coupled with new knowledge to prepare to bargain closing contracts, support members and stay open to new ideas that will help improve our members well being.

Jeff Clark:  jeffclark@teamsters117.org or by phone 206-441-4860 ext.1239

Teamsters Local 117 hired Jeff Clark in January of 2010. Jeff is a Teamster of 20 years. He has spent the last ten years directly involved with the bargaining process both as a Business Agent and as a Shop Steward. Jeff is a certified Human Resource Generalist and is trained in Federal and State Labor Laws, Compensation and Benefits, and Labor relations. He has developed communication plans, provided customer service, supervised the grievance process, negotiated grievance settlements and has performed as lead negotiator for collective bargaining, in both the public and private sectors.

As a Teamster, Jeff has served as a trustee for the executive board at Teamsters Local 763 and as a trustee to the Transportation/Circulations Executive Committee of the Newspaper, Magazine and Electronic Media Workers Conference.

Matthew House: matt.house@teamsters117.org or by phone at: 206-441-4860 ext.1242.

13-year Teamster, Matt was hired by Local 117 in March of 2008.  With experience negotiating contracts and as a Union Shop Steward at both Food Service of America and Golden State Foods, Matt brings private sector tenacity to his job with the public sector.  Matt currently represents 117 members at the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, the Seattle Housing Authority,and the Pike Place Market, among many other shops.

Mark Manning: mark.manning@teamsters117.org or by phone at: 206-441-4860 ext.1234.

Mark Manning became a Teamster in 1979 when he went to work at Washington Natural Gas, where he was a Union Shop Steward and served on the negotiating committee. In 1997, Mark was hired by Local 117 as a Business Representative. He has represented members throughout the Union’s automotive and retail sectors. In February of 2006, he was assigned to the Port of Seattle and Law Enforcement jurisdictions, which he continues to cover along with new assignments in the King County bargaining units.

Betty Sorbo: betty@teamsters117.org or by phone at: 206-441-4860 ext. 1233

Betty comes to the Local 117 team having worked for 10 years at King County's Human Resources Division. Betty brings an insider's view of the workings of the County's personnel policy having been in position in her former career to be involved in the implementation.