Gov. Rick Snyder announced an end to the lockout September 27 after the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association and the Operating Engineers 324 agreed to continue working throughout the 2018 construction season under the terms of a contract that expired in June.
Snyder said a long-term solution between the two groups could be worked out after the construction season ends. At one point, Snyder had considered calling in National Guard equipment operators to get work going on crucial road projects.
The Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association started the lockout September 4 after the union had been negotiating contracts with independent contractors and had not responded to MITA’s contract proposal. The union and MITA had been battling since spring over a new five-year contract. The lockout stalled or slowed more than 150 road construction projects in the state.
Snyder’s office said the new short-term agreement between MITA and the union includes the following:
“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.”
The list of projects that can and cannot be finished before winter weather will be managed by the Michigan Department of Transportation, Snyder said.
