road workers' labor stoppage

(WXYZ) - Governor Snyder announced that the labor impasse has been resolved and work on road projects will begin immediately.

MITA and OE 324 agreed to continue working without a contract through the 2018 construction season.

“This is great news and I appreciate that both sides were able to see how important the work they do is to the safety and quality of life for all Michiganders,” Snyder said. “The vital work of getting Michigan’s roads repaired should not have stalled, but the important thing now is that projects will be getting back on track. A long-term solution to the contract negotiations still needs to be worked out, but that can and should be done after this construction season is completed.”

Both the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association and Operating Engineers 324 reached a short-term solution with Snyder.

Details of the agreement include:

-MITA will end the lockout on all projects.
-The Operating Engineers will have their workers report to work immediately.
-The priority for work will be for projects that can be completed prior to significant winter weather arriving.
-Other projects will continue for as long as possible, including work to prepare them for safe winter travel if they cannot be completed.
-Contractors and OE 324 will use professional mediation through the winter to help them with negotiations for a new contract.

“I understand the frustration this has caused but our association has an important responsibility to our members who are committed to doing the best work they can to build and maintain Michigan’s infrastructure on behalf of taxpayers,” said Mike Nystrom, Executive Vice President and Secretary of MITA. “We appreciate the Governor’s commitment to resolving this issue in a satisfactory manner for both sides so we can get these road projects underway again. Our members will work with MDOT to get things wrapped up as quickly as possible and get lanes open again for motorists.”

“Our members are ready to get back on their machines and get these projects done across the state — and look forward to working again as soon as we can,” said Ken Dombrow, President of OE324. “We still have issues to work out and will represent the best interests of our members throughout those negotiations, as we always have. We appreciate Gov. Snyder’s willingness to not take sides and to remain focused on finding a way to get the work done. The operating engineers of Michigan have an important job to do and we’re happy that now they can start doing it again.”
 
So it took someone else willing to do the job, before these companies came running back like a 3 year old seeing someone else playing with their toys?
 
MITA jobs were not posted anywhere.

MITA Locked out the Union.

UNION has been working without a contract.
 
Anthony said:
MITA jobs were not posted anywhere.

MITA Locked out the Union.

UNION has been working without a contract.
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According to Channel 7, jobs were posted on huffmaster.com - a company specializing in strike management solutions. They were working, and are going back to work without a contract. That will give MITA time to line up non-union labor for next year.

-Geoff
 
MITA Announces Agreement to Restart Road Work
Construction to Resume Immediately
This statement is from Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure
and Transportation Association (MITA). Nystrom is commenting on an agreement to restart
road work after a defensive lockout on Sept. 4 halted projects across the state. On June 1, the
contract between MITA member companies and Operating Engineers, Local 324 expired.
LANSING, Mich. – “Construction will resume immediately. I want to thank Gov. Rick Snyder for
his assistance and leadership throughout this process. Our contractors have heard the message
from the governor and understand the moral obligation to put this dispute aside in an effort to
finish a number of stalled road projects across the state to protect the driving public and assist
businesses affected by these projects. The trigger that ended this lock out for the contractors
was the fact that OE 324 agreed to mediation this winter. Contractors and OE 324 will use
professional mediation through the winter to help them with negotiations for a new contract.
The immediate priority will be projects that can be completed prior to the arrival of significant
winter weather. Other projects will continue for as long as possible, including preparing them
for safe winter travel if they cannot be completed. Both sides have agreed to work together
without disruption to get as much work done as possible.”
 
WhiteHawk said:
According to Channel 7, jobs were posted on huffmaster.com - a company specializing in strike management solutions. They were working, and are going back to work without a contract. That will give MITA time to line up non-union labor for next year.

-Geoff
Click to expand...

Labor jobs posted
Not MITA
 
-Other projects will continue for as long as possible, including work to prepare them for safe winter travel if they cannot be completed.
Click to expand...

Drifting thru barrels & rubble ought to be fun...
 
There were two accidents in the two mile long construction zone on east bound I-69 today alone. They need to get that work done ASAP.
 
mikesfastss said:
Just remember you get what you pay for......... no love here for them scabs, if they were that great at what they do they wouldn’t have to leave their home state to make non union wages.
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I joined 324 for 2 years, you know what it got me?
Made a 1/3 less then what I do now... had to pay my own insurance some months cause the company skipped the payments... if you don't personally know OR kiss up to a foreman, your not getting over time..
Complained about a raise that I didn't get to a Union rep and had the company supervisor drive out to our job site in Landsing JUST to chew me out about talk to those guys....
Been running construction equipment for over 25 years and I can literally run circles around some of those clowns at 324....and by the way 324 has $20,000 of mine that they refuse to give me... Fuck 324 and fuck MITA they new the work stoppage was gonna happen in the middle of all these projects and they tried to piss off the commuters and use it as their bargaining chip.
 
Wizeguy said:
I joined 324 for 2 years, you know what it got me?
Made a 1/3 less then what I do now... had to pay my own insurance some months cause the company skipped the payments... if you don't personally know OR kiss up to a foreman, your not getting over time..
Complained about a raise that I didn't get to a Union rep and had the company supervisor drive out to our job site in Landsing JUST to chew me out about talk to those guys....
Been running construction equipment for over 25 years and I can literally run circles around some of those clowns at 324....and by the way 324 has $20,000 of mine that they refuse to give me... Fuck 324 and fuck MITA they new the work stoppage was gonna happen in the middle of all these projects and they tried to piss off the commuters and use it as their bargaining chip.
Click to expand...
sorry to hear that Sal, like I said unions aren’t for everyone, sounds like some of your issues were with the company more then the union, unfortunately sounds like your stewards weren’t doing there jobs. My brother had the same experience as you, did a stint in the iron workers union and didn’t like it, quit and went into business for him self and has done well. I’ve got nothing against guys going out and making a living but I have no love for the scabs trying to swop in on a union job and push a guy out and do it for less while the other guys just trying to better himself.
 
mikesfastss said:
sorry to hear that Sal, like I said unions aren’t for everyone, sounds like some of your issues were with the company more then the union, unfortunately sounds like your stewards weren’t doing there jobs. My brother had the same experience as you, did a stint in the iron workers union and didn’t like it, quit and went into business for him self and has done well. I’ve got nothing against guys going out and making a living but I have no love for the scabs trying to swop in on a union job and push a guy out and do it for less while the other guys just trying to better himself.
Click to expand...

Unions aren't for everyone? You hear first hand and that is all you can say? They fucked the entire metro area because they wanted to go back to 1950's style mob run unions. They wanted to be able to screw contractors that wouldn't "Play Ball" and pick and choose who they were going to play nice with. Those guys are crooked and are pretty much poster boys for everything that is wrong with organized labor. But yea, unions aren't for everyone, but those fuckheads sure are for themselves whether it includes fucking everyone or not. So fuck them! Let them get busted next year. I guarantee that MITA is already lining up next years crews without them.

-Geoff
 
So I should base my opinion off one persons experience? I have first hand experience in union and non union environments so I base my opinions off my experience and that of the hundreds of thousands of union members who have had great experiences with the union. Not some union hating white collar who has no clue what he’s talking about.
 
mikesfastss said:
sorry to hear that Sal, like I said unions aren’t for everyone, sounds like some of your issues were with the company more then the union, unfortunately sounds like your stewards weren’t doing there jobs. My brother had the same experience as you, did a stint in the iron workers union and didn’t like it, quit and went into business for him self and has done well. I’ve got nothing against guys going out and making a living but I have no love for the scabs trying to swop in on a union job and push a guy out and do it for less while the other guys just trying to better himself.
Click to expand...



In all fairness, isn't the "scab" just trying to better himself too?

Does the union guy "own his job", therefore its theft for someone
else to "take it"?
 
4Gas$ said:
[/B]


In all fairness, isn't the "scab" just trying to better himself too?

Does the union guy "own his job", therefore its theft for someone
else to "take it"?
Click to expand...
im a firm believer that if you want to work on a union job site with union pay then you should pay union dues, there are a lot of people that take the time away from their family and friends to work those negotiating jobs traveling all over the country living out of hotels and such. Why should some one get those benefits for free while the other folks working those jobs paid dues and fought for those jobs and working conditions? Sure every one is entitled to have a job if they want to work, but they shouldn’t be able to work on a union site when they didn’t pay their way, kinda like when everybody says people aren’t allowed to have water when they don’t pay their bill.
 
mikesfastss said:
So I should base my opinion off one persons experience? I have first hand experience in union and non union environments so I base my opinions off my experience and that of the hundreds of thousands of union members who have had great experiences with the union. Not some union hating white collar who has no clue what he’s talking about.
Click to expand...
I have been in unions myself. I can tell you first hand, that there are good unions and bad unions. These road guys are shitheads, giving bad names to hard working union men and women. It is ignorant to say all unions are good or all unions are bad.

mikesfastss said:
im a firm believer that if you want to work on a union job site with union pay then you should pay union dues, there are a lot of people that take the time away from their family and friends to work those negotiating jobs traveling all over the country living out of hotels and such. Why should some one get those benefits for free while the other folks working those jobs paid dues and fought for those jobs and working conditions? Sure every one is entitled to have a job if they want to work, but they shouldn’t be able to work on a union site when they didn’t pay their way, kinda like when everybody says people aren’t allowed to have water when they don’t pay their bill.
Click to expand...
What is a union job site to you? What right does the union have to it? Did they bid on the contract and get awarded the job? That is the only way it is a union job site in my book. The rest is all entitlement.

-Geoff
 
4Gas$ said:
[/B]


In all fairness, isn't the "scab" just trying to better himself too?

Does the union guy "own his job", therefore its theft for someone
else to "take it"?
Click to expand...


Yes...by his logic, union jobs exist because of his union. Building cars and sturdy roads is only happening because of him and his union. It must feel really good to think that everything exists because YOU woke up and graced earth with your presence. :)

I mean...people are traveling and living in hotels negotiating your superior skills...Bill...have a heart!!! :eek:

I'm happy everyone is working again, I really don't care about their title or affiliation. (Even though they do..)
 
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If life is so good on the non union side why are the scabs lining up to get those jobs as soon as we the union workers go on strike? The world doesn’t revolve around unions by any means that’s why I don’t understand why you guys get so butt hurt over the unions actions, well aside from the political side of it obviously. A union job is one that is negotiated to be manned with union workers obviously, just curious why all of these companies and government offices decide to use union labor over non union labor? Also kind of curious why after becoming a right to work state there has been such a very small fraction of members who dropped out.
 
AutoRoc said:
Yes...by his logic, union jobs exist because of his union. Building cars and sturdy roads is only happening because of him and his union. It must feel really good to think that everything exists because YOU woke up and graced earth with your presence. :)

I mean...people are traveling and living in hotels negotiating your superior skills...Bill...have a heart!!! :eek:

I'm happy everyone is working again, I really don't care about their title or affiliation. (Even though they do..)
Click to expand...
dam Denny you seem awfully butt hurt, let me guess daddy won’t give you a raise lol.
 
mikesfastss said:
If life is so good on the non union side why are the scabs lining up to get those jobs as soon as we the union workers go on strike? The world doesn’t revolve around unions by any means that’s why I don’t understand why you guys get so butt hurt over the unions actions, well aside from the political side of it obviously. A union job is one that is negotiated to be manned with union workers obviously, just curious why all of these companies and government offices decide to use union labor over non union labor? Also kind of curious why after becoming a right to work state there has been such a very small fraction of members who dropped out.
Click to expand...

I told you why I ampissed off. The road work is costing me one hour a day, and when a bunch of entitled union fucks decide that they are going to use that to squeeze out a little more blood money from the state, it pisses me off even more. Government unions should be illegal in my opinion too, but that is an entire separate topic. I don't want to lose sight of the fact that the entitled assholes running 324 can go fuck themselves.

-Geoff
 
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