Teamsters Local 690, based in Spokane, Washington, has a rich history dating back to its founding on October 23, 1917. Originally chartered to represent Team Drivers and Heavy Trades workers in the Spokane area and the Inland Empire, the roots of the local stretch even further back to 1898, when it was first organized as Local 101. By the early 1900s, Local 690 had grown significantly, and by 1917, it represented over 400 workers. One of its early major victories came in 1918, when the union secured an 8-hour workday—a progressive achievement for that time.

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Throughout its history, Local 690 has merged with other locals to strengthen its representation, such as Local 105 in 1933 and Local 582 in 2000. The local’s growth was marked by an expansion of the types of workers it represented, including warehousemen, chauffeurs, construction workers, and even those involved in the Manhattan Project during World War II. Today, Local 690 continues to play a key role in representing over 3,600 workers in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, making significant contributions to the local economy and labor rights movements.