OE 324

To all SCCRC employees:

We hope that this communication finds you and your families safe and well. We wanted to reach out to you on the importance of your upcoming election. As you know the state will be mailing out ballots this Wednesday October 11Th 2023, and your ballots need to be mailed back to MERC by October 25th , as they will be counted by a MERC agent on October 30th.

You are the ones that clear our roads that make it safe for our families to travel on those winter days, to take the kids to school, to get from event to event. The staff here at OE324 (and myself, coming from the Road Commission For Oakland County) know what it’s like missing things like parties, Christmas, New Year’s, kids birthdays. Most people don’t see it and don’t care – you’re just the person that slows them down in the summer with construction, and they yell at in the winter when their road isn’t plowed. I’ve heard it all, so I’m going to lay some things out for you in this letter.

• OE324 represents over 15,000 members throughout the state. And the IUOE is over 400,000 members throughout the county and Canada. WE SPECIALIZE IN YOUR JOB CLASSIFICATION. TPOAM is office workers, your office is in the plow truck or equipment you are running. Last time I checked, office workers don’t have Operators in their name.
• Yes, our dues are higher than what you pay now. That’s because we offer so much more than what TPOAM offers. Ask yourself, does TPOAM offer 600+ acres to train on. Yes, there is an initiation fee. The representation is where it all pays off.
• OE324 Business Agent are always available to you – when you call, we are there. Can TPOAM say the same? With the MCL members only package we offer free to dues paying members, you have access to top of the line attorneys, not just four but an entire firm of them.
• OE324 members out of Oakland County only paid significant health care costs because they were out of contract, NOT BECAUSE of OE324. They were paying higher for health care for almost 2 years before talking with OE324. OE324 was the reason their health care COSTS WENT DOWN. Everything that was done poorly was done by their RTA representative before they went with OE324!

OE324 gives the ultimate full-service and best union representation. We would never let anyone change this. We know you are the front line when it comes to making the roads safe not only for our families here, but all our members across the State. Let us serve you as you serve us. And we don’t sell your names to anyone – we are too busy running Equipment.

We are here because an overwhelming number of guys reached out to us and asked to partner with your group to try and make a change. When a group asks us in, that’s when we go to work. We filed to get on the ballot to give you the option of making positive change in your workplace and that’s what this vote is all about.

This is going to be a 3-way election. The ballot will have the Operating Engineers Local 324, TPOAM and No Union. It’s imperative that you guys know that this is a majority vote and whoever gets the majority will be your legal representative. It’s important for you guys to get your votes in because MERC will only count the ballots that come back. For example, if only 30 ballots came back to the state and 17 of them said no union then the majority has spoken and you have no union, and TPOAM is nonexistent and your contract is void, and the OE 324 goes away as well. This is why the urgency to VOTE.

NOW is the time for you to let your voice be heard! If TPOAM is where you feel that you will be best served, then please vote for them. It is important that you vote, regardless of who it is for, because this is how you feed your family and pay your bills. If you feel that it’s time for a change then vote how you feel you need to vote. We won’t ask for your vote or try to change your mind because we respect each individual and the democratic process of voting. However, this election goes it has a been a pleasure getting to know many of you and we hope nothing for the best for all of you.

If OE 324 is chosen, we put things on the table that you guys want – nothing more, nothing less. We fight for you. We look forward to having a positive working relationship with your employer to build the best contract for what you guys need. Having your Union Representative there for any disciplinary meetings is important. There’s an obligation to represent each and every member with no discrimination or prejudice.

OE 324 is committed to your success, and a stronger voice and better presence at the negotiating table. We sincerely thank you for the opportunity. We are grateful to have gotten to know many of you and are looking forward to becoming your Union representation. We look forward to welcoming each member into the family of the Operating Engineers and making the SCCRC a place to be proud to work.

Chris Cramer
(248) 413-7951

Aaron Robbins
(586) 256-2811