UPDATE: Union Contractors Back On Roads
UPDATE 9/28/18: A good faith agreement to negotiate a new contract this winter will put hundreds of union road construction workers back on the job today. WLNS TV 6 reports that this isn’t a long term deal, but an effort to finish current incomplete projects before we get hit with winter.
UPDATE 9/25/18: The Detroit Free Press reports that the latest development in the there week labor lockout on dozens of Michigan road construction projects came today when a spokesperson for the contractors reported that with the intent of getting work going again, they may use replacement workers for the jobs, both union and non-union.
The Detroit Free Press has more details here from a meeting this morning that was another attempt to resolve the contract dispute.
Friday, September 21, 2018:
Have you noticed that some road construction projects that got started earlier in the year have now stalled? Maybe you missed the story about a lockout of workers by contractors with the state of Michigan whose contract with their employees (Operating Engineers Local 324) expired on June 1st.
Work on the roads kept going past the contract expiration until September 4th, then the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, announced a work stoppage and road crews were essentially 'locked out'. There has also been talk of the state withholding payments for contractors.
The state of Michigan is reportedly considering calling on the National Guard to complete stalled roadwork amid a breakdown in talks aimed at lifting a lockout of road engineers.
All sides have their story - the Detroit News has an in-depth look here at the contentions between the parties.