Operating Engineers 324

06/22/2026

Operating Engineers 324 is proud to welcome Michigan Paving and Materials, Liquid Terminal, in Monroe, as a new signatory contractor, and to welcome the 11 employees at this facility into the OE324 family.

This is an important step that reflects the value of a strong, professional partnership between Operating Engineers 324 and a company that recognizes what OE324 brings to the table. Through voluntary card recognition, this process showed respect for the workers and for the role OE324 can play in helping represent a skilled, safe, and reliable workforce.

We are excited for this new group to take part in everything Operating Engineers 324 has to offer, from training and representation to the strength and solidarity that comes with a union partnership. We look forward to building on this relationship in Monroe and to the opportunities it can create for these employees, this contractor, and the future of OE324 work across Michigan.

06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day, to all of the fathers, dads, pops, step-fathers, grandfathers, padres, husbands, brothers, father figures, and friends we are lucky enough to know. And a special shout-out to those members who are fathers themselves - enjoy your day!

06/18/2026

After serving five years in the United States Marine Corps maintaining helicopters, Mike LaGrow returned home to Michigan looking for a career that would allow him to continue working with his hands and solving complex mechanical problems. Through a contractor sponsor, he entered the Operating Engineers 324 Registered Apprenticeship program and began building a career as a Heavy Equipment Technician.

Now nearly four years into his apprenticeship, Mike works behind the scenes to keep construction projects moving. From engine rebuilds and hydraulic repairs to welding, fabrication, electrical work, and diagnostics, he has developed a wide range of skills through both on-the-job training and instruction at the OE324 Construction Career Center. He credits the apprenticeship for expanding his knowledge, building his confidence, and providing opportunities to learn new trades and technologies.

Mike takes pride in the critical role Technicians play in the industry. Whether repairing equipment in the field, troubleshooting complex mechanical issues, or helping return a machine to service, he enjoys the challenge of the work and the satisfaction that comes from keeping job sites running. He also values the brotherhood, stability, and opportunities that come with union membership—allowing him to build a successful career, purchase a home, and provide for his family while doing work he loves.

06/16/2026

Volunteers needed for the Construction vs Cancer Big Dig, Saturday, July 11 at the OE324 Construction Career Center in Howell.

Equipment Operator sign-ups are here: https://tinyurl.com/4znzh9dp

Other volunteers can sign-up here: https://tinyurl.com/5n8ycpyh

Join us in helping fight cancer while giving children the experience of a lifetime!

06/15/2026

The June OE324 General Membership Meeting is this Wednesday, June 17, at 8:00 PM at the Operating Engineers 324 Grand Rapids West Michigan Construction Career Center at 900 40th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI. The meeting will be broadcast to Detroit, Freeland, Gladstone, Grayling, and Sault Ste. Marie. The Sault Ste. Marie meeting broadcast will be held at the Kewadin Casino, 2186 Shunk Road, Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783, in the Grand Island Room (I & II).

We look forward to seeing you there!

Apprenticeship center

06/11/2026

Nathan Kwapis is a Foreman with Payne and Dolan and a graduate of the Operating Engineers 324 Registered Apprenticeship program. After learning about the opportunities available through the trade from a family friend, Nathan pursued a career as an Operating Engineer and quickly discovered a career built on strong wages, outstanding benefits, industry-leading safety standards, and a commitment to helping workers succeed.

Over the course of his apprenticeship, Nathan worked on projects throughout Michigan, including quarry operations, road construction, and highway improvements. One of the most meaningful moments of his career came when he had the opportunity to help rebuild the very road he grew up on—a project that allowed him to give back to his own community while operating the equipment he has loved since childhood.

Today, Nathan credits the apprenticeship's training, mentorship, and sense of brotherhood for helping him grow into a successful operator and leader. From learning specialized equipment to working alongside experienced journeymen, he has found a supportive environment where members are invested in each other's success. In doing so, Nathan was an exceptional apprentice - winning the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Inc. (MASCI) Construction Apprentice of the Year award for 2025.

Nathan takes pride in the work he does, the infrastructure he helps build, and the future he is creating through Operating Engineers 324.

06/10/2026

REMINDER - THIS WEEK IS HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR APPRENTICE APPLICATIONS FOR CTE PROGRAM GRADUATES - visit oe324.org/application

Throughout the month of June, Operating Engineers 324 will be accepting requests from Career Technical Education (CTE) graduates for direct entry to the Apprenticeship evaluation process.
This includes the Heavy Equipment Operator, Heavy Equipment Technician, and Stationary Engineer programs. The schedule is below:
June 8 - 12: Heavy Equipment Operator
June 15-19: Heavy Equipment Technician
June 22-26: Stationary Engineer/HVAC
Candidates *MUST* have completed one of the listed CTE courses, have verified high school transcripts, and meet all other listed criteria to be eligible.
Requests will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, and are limited. See less

06/08/2026

Operating Engineers 324 and Deppmann are offering a Initial Pump Basics session on July 15 from 11am-2pm at the OE324 Stationary Engineer Career Center at 1550 Howard, Detroit MI. Lunch is provided - please register at https://www.oe324.org/pump_class_registration/ by July 8.

06/04/2026

After serving in the United States Marine Corps as an Amphibious Assault Vehicle Operator and rising to the rank of Corporal, Blake Benore began looking for a career that would allow him to stay active, work with his hands, and build a strong future for his family. Through Helmets to Hardhats, he found that opportunity with Operating Engineers 324.

Now training as a Crane Operator through the OE324 Registered Apprenticeship program, Blake is building the skills needed to work on a wide range of projects across Michigan—from setting HVAC units and structural components to supporting major infrastructure work. Following in the footsteps of his father, he was drawn to cranes from an early age and credits the apprenticeship's thorough training, experienced instructors, and opportunities to use his GI Bill benefits for helping him make a successful transition into the skilled trades.

For Blake, the union provides more than a career. Strong wages, excellent benefits, a pension, and the support of fellow members offer the same sense of brotherhood and camaraderie he valued in the Marine Corps. He takes pride in the work he does, the projects he helps build, and the future he is creating through Operating Engineers 324.

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, Operating Engineers 324 honors the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Today, we remember them with solemn gratitude, reflect on the freedoms secured through their sacrifice, and honor their legacy with peace and respect.