GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A labor dispute between road workers and construction companies is threatening to disrupt road work statewide, even as commute-delaying projects are nearing the finish line.
That could impact projects right here in West Michigan.
The organization that represents the owners of road construction companies and the union that represents heavy equipment operators are at odds over a contract that expired in June.
Barring the unlikely event that a new contract will be signed in Monday night; some construction projects could come to a halt, lengthening a construction season that already seems endless.
Operating Engineers Local 324 represents some 14,000 heavy equipment operators statewide – these are the folks who operate things like rollers, bulldozers, excavators, paving machines and the like.
For the last 80 years, the union has negotiated with the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, which has 500 members made up of the owners of construction companies.
Full story: WOOD TV