Operating Engineers 324 Urges Gladwin City Council to End Infighting and Prioritize DPW Contract Negotiations

Union Demonstrates Against 17-Month Delay in Securing Fair Contract for Gladwin Department of Public Works Employees

GLADWIN, MI — Today, representatives and members of Operating Engineers 324 gathered in Gladwin to demonstrate against the ongoing failure of city officials to negotiate a fair contract for the city’s Department of Public Works (DPW) employees. The protest took place ahead of the city council meeting, as DPW employees have now worked for 17 months without a contract while internal disagreements between council members and city management continue to delay negotiations.

The demonstration comes in response to the escalating tension within the city’s leadership, which has seen council members embroiled in disputes and legal actions over who is qualified to lead the contract talks. Operating Engineers 324, which represents the DPW workers, is calling on the city council to set aside its infighting and focus on reaching a fair agreement with the workers who keep the city running.

“It is beyond ridiculous that the hard-working members of the Gladwin DPW have had to go 17 months without a contract while their city administration plays petty games,” said Douglas Stockwell, Business Manager and General Vice President of Operating Engineers 324. “These workers have continued to provide the city with top-notch services, despite the complete lack of respect and regard shown them since they organized to be represented by Operating Engineers 324. It is time for the city to do what they know is right and get a contract in place immediately.”

The DPW employees, who are responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure in the city, including roads, water services, and public spaces, have seen their working conditions stagnate despite their vital role in the community. The union has repeatedly attempted to engage city management in meaningful negotiations, but progress has been stymied by internal conflicts that have left the workers without a contract or any resolution in sight.

Joe Zeitz, a Gladwin DPW employee, echoed the frustration of his fellow workers, noting that the DPW team has continued to fulfill their responsibilities despite the lack of support from city leadership. “We’ve kept this city running for the last 17 months without a contract, doing our jobs every single day, and it’s time for the city administrators to do theirs,” said Zeitz. “If we did our jobs the way city administrators have done theirs, we wouldn’t have jobs.”

“We are here to remind the city council and management that their priority should be the residents of Gladwin and the workers who serve them,” added Stockwell. “Every day that this contract is delayed is another day that these essential workers are being treated unfairly. The city needs to stop the bickering and get to work—just as our members have done without fail.”

Operating Engineers 324, which represents over 15,000 members across Michigan, has pledged to continue advocating for the Gladwin DPW workers until a fair contract is secured.