By John M. Hamilton, Business Manager and General VP,
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324

The relationship between the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324 and Ajax Paving Industries, Inc., has spanned more than 50 years. The reason the relationship between the two organizations has lasted is based on a promise made on May 6, 1955: Local 324 will supply a workforce that will provide a fair day’s work while performing safely. In return, Ajax will provide a fair day’s pay and a safe work environment. Today, Local 324 incorporates this promise into its value statement: Members will provide a fair day’s work, bringing unsurpassed unity, pride, and productivity to the jobsite while performing safely.

Another reason the relationship has lasted more than a half a century is that the two companies share a set of core beliefs and values. Together they understand customers’ needs and are driven to exceed their expectations, and the two spend hours communicating with customers such as the Michigan Department of Transportation (the largest customer), General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Detroit Edison, and Consumers Energy, to name a few. The goal is to understand customers’ needs and then surpass them.

Local 324 is able to deliver on its promise and meet customer expectations because of our members’ commitment to training and upgrading skills. Each year, several thousand members spend time at Local 324’s state-of-the-art, 515-acre training facility in Howell, Michigan, becoming better employees. Tens of thousands of hours are spent in the classroom as well as “the pit,” a vast area where operating engineers receive hands-on training, honing their knowledge and skills. Training topics at the center include the efficient operation of global positioning system (GPS)-enabled equipment, safety training, and supervisor skills. Local 324 members understand the global world they live in today and are motivated to meet the pressures of competition. Only through training, teamwork, and innovation can we collectively survive.

As we move forward, we are faced with new challenges and opportunities. A challenge looming on the horizon is the retirement of the Baby Boomers. Local 324 is positioning itself to meet this challenge by actively recruiting new apprentices with an emphasis on women and ethnic diversity. It is understood that even though we have met or exceeded our U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (DOL BAT) goals in the past, we will be faced with a reduced Caucasian male population in the future. We plan to expand the number of apprentices in our program and have taken the first step toward making this happen by introducing new language into our collective bargaining agreements.

Michigan is currently in a metamorphic process, and it will be interesting to see the outcome. What industries will be the backbone? What will drive the economy? How will we fund infrastructure? More to the point, how will we fund road repair and construction? Local 324 does not plan to be a causal bystander as our future unfolds. We are very involved with all of our contractor partners through the Drive Michigan campaign in Lansing and in Washington, making sure we help build the road map to a prosperous state.

Local 324 is proud, and rightfully so, of the 52-year relationship it has enjoyed with Ajax based on a promise, and we look forward to many more years.