ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – A Michigan union is calling on an international employer to improve one of its practices.
Operating Engineers 324 represents 16,000 heavy equipment operators, technicians, and stationary engineers throughout the state. On Wednesday, a group of its members held a demonstration across the street from Billerud’s Escanaba mill.
They claim that following a “longstanding relationship” with VanDamme Trucking, Billerud is now working with a company that does not pay its workers area-standard wages.
“Yes, the previous company was a signatory contractor of ours, but this isn’t a union/non-union issue,” said Dan McKernan, Communications Director for Operating Engineers 324. “This is just a fair wage issue. We know what that work is worth, and so do they. They are choosing to pay people less and undercut the people doing the hard work to try to up their profits.”
In response to the demonstration, a Billerud spokesperson sent the following statement to WZMQ 19 News:
Billerud continues to be the largest union employer in the area and regularly works with both union and nonunion contractors and suppliers to safely and efficiently operate the Escanaba Mill. Because this matter involves outside parties, we are unable to provide any further comment.
McKernan says Operating Engineers 324 hopes to raise awareness about the issue and encourage Billerud to make a change.
“It’s never too late to do the right thing by your employees or those who are doing the work,” he said. “It’s never too late to make sure that they’re paid fairly—fair wages and benefits… The people doing this hard work that live and work in their own community, they should do right by them.”
WZMQ 19 will provide any updates to the story as the situation develops.
