SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - The union representing the Oakland County Road Commission workers held an informational picket on Wednesday after they remain gridlocked with Commission leaders over new contracts to negotiate safety concerns and wages.
Hourly Road Commission workers told WWJ Newsradio950 reporter Ryan Marshall that they have remained on the job without a contract for three years, working through the COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation.
"Oakland County Road Commission employees have made countless sacrifices and worked faithfully to keep our roads and bridges safe through four winters and a global pandemic without a contract, said Kevin Besonen, Business Representative, Operating Engineers 324.
"Their wages and benefits have been stagnant for four years, their safety protections are significantly lacking, and rather than show appreciation toward the dedication these employees have shown, the Oakland County Road Commission and its negotiators have slowed down the process and refused even basic requests."
According the OE324, today's picket in front of the Road Commission of Oakland County Southfield Facility was organized to raise awareness about the Commission's "refusal to negotiate a contract and preserve worker safety."
The union representing the workers said they have asked to meet with the Commission several times in 2021 to negotiate a new contract, which the Commission refused to schedule until August of last year. Workers were unable to make progress with the Commission's representatives when it comes to workplace safety, including addressing work on open highways without adequate safety barriers.
Oakland County Road Commission employees said since no new contract has been agreed upon since 2018, wages have stayed stagnant while the cost of living has only increased.
"Oakland County spends considerable time, money, and effort toward establishing themselves as a great community to live and work. You could not prove this by the treatment the Road Commission employees have received at the bargaining table," said Operating Engineers 324 President Ken Dombrow. "Rather than addressing serious safety concerns and financial hardships, the Commission and it's representatives have chosen to play games while livelihoods are in the balance."
"Residents and businesses of Oakland County should have real concerns about the way these road workers – the ones relied on to clear snow and fill potholes – are being treated. These employees work tirelessly for the residents of Oakland County. They deserve safe conditions and a new contract immediately."
Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) Board Chair Andrea LaLonde released a statement to WWJ on Wednesday that said the union had rejected the initial contract agreed upon by the Commission's three other bargaining groups in 2020.
LaLonde further clarified that the hourly employees switched representation during the same time from their prior union before selecting OE 324, a process that LaLonde said takes time as it involved "decertifying the previous organization and selecting a new union."
The RCOC Chair said most of the issues that workers are picketing for today have already been taken care of. One of the biggest remaining grievances hinge on the availability of OCRC employees to provide critical services, like road maintenance during the harsh winter months when salting and plowing are essential.
"We have tremendous respect for our workforce and the job that they do," stated LaLonde.
"But, we need to ensure that we are able to have adequate staff on the job to keep our roads safe and to perform our essential duties. We would like nothing more than to settle this contract so that we can all focus on the critical work we do. To that end, we continue to negotiate in good faith and with the intent of achieving a fair and equitable contract."
A new contract, if and when agreed upon, would cover over 230 Oakland County road workers.
