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Operating Engineers 324 Applaud Lansing City Council’s Adoption of Responsible Bidder Ordinance

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Operating Engineers 324 Applaud Lansing City Council’s Adoption of Responsible Bidder Ordinance

LANSING, MI – Operating Engineers 324 (OE324), representing nearly 15,000 heavy equipment operators, technicians, and stationary engineers across Michigan, commends the Lansing City Council for its passage of Ordinance 206.02, the Responsible and Responsive Bidder Requirements. This important step ensures taxpayer-funded projects will be built by contractors who are proven to be capable, accountable, and committed to quality—not simply the lowest bidder on paper.

“For over 100 years, Operating Engineers 324 has stood for quality, safety, and accountability in Michigan’s construction industry,” said Douglas W. Stockwell, Business Manager of Operating Engineers 324. “The Responsible Bidder Ordinance is about setting fair, transparent standards that benefit workers, taxpayers, and the entire Lansing community. These are not burdens—they are standards. They ensure projects are built right the first time, by contractors who invest in apprenticeship programs, follow safety rules, provide benefits, and pay fair wages. We applaud the Council for taking this common-sense step.”

The ordinance establishes clear, measurable requirements for bidders on public projects, including:

  • Investment in U.S. Department of Labor–registered apprenticeship programs, creating a pipeline of skilled, job-ready workers.
  • Demonstrated compliance with OSHA and MIOSHA safety standards.
  • Evidence of health care and retirement benefits that support family-sustaining careers.
  • A commitment to paying prevailing wages.
  • Verification of proper worker classification, licensing, and compliance with local rules.

Tim Ganton, Business Representative and Trustee of Operating Engineers 324, added: “This is about accountability and protecting Lansing’s taxpayers. Too often, ‘low bid’ ends up costing more through mistakes, delays, and unsafe work. The Responsible Bidder Ordinance makes sure projects are built by the right people, with the right skills, materials, and training. Lansing taxpayers deserve nothing less, and this Council showed real leadership in making that the standard.”

By adopting this ordinance, Lansing joins communities across the state in protecting public investment and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used to support safe, timely, and professional construction.

“Operating Engineers 324 is proud to partner with contractors who partner to meet and exceed these standards every day,” Stockwell added. “Our members are ready to continue building Lansing safely, professionally, and on time.”