Dear Genesee Team,

As you consider who you want representing you in the workplace, we want to speak to you clearly, respectfully, and truthfully—because your decision is important. It’s not just about who signs the paperwork or shows up for meetings. It’s about who stands beside you, who fights for you, and who you can trust when it matters most.

Let’s start with the most important thing: your voice. Every one of you has a right to be heard in this process. No matter who you support, this vote is about ensuring that your future is shaped by your choice—not pressure, not scare tactics, and certainly not misinformation.

Unfortunately, your current union, TPOAM, seems more interested in creating confusion than in taking responsibility for their failures. After years of poor representation, missed opportunities, and questionable priorities, they’re now scrambling to hold onto their position—not by earning it, but by trying to tear someone else down.

Unfortunately, the things they brag about only showcase their shortcomings. How can they continually talk about the excellence of their research while continually getting the very name of our union wrong? We are the IUOE, not the “OEIU,” but since we’ve only been in existence for 129 YEARS… They also brag about the number of lawyers they have (seems like a wasteful spending of your dues to us, considering how little they’ve accomplished).

Here are some of the things they’re being dishonest about—and the facts you deserve to hear:

When they say “OE324 dues are high and unclear”
This is false. Our dues are transparent, consistent, and not some mysterious fee you find out about later. We don’t hide them because we’re proud of what they support: effective contract enforcement, legal support, full-time representation, and the strongest infrastructure training program in the state.

When they say “TPOAM is the only union experienced in public-sector work“

Also false. OE324 proudly represents dozens of public-sector groups—including road commissions in Oakland, Jackson, St. Clair, and more. Representing public workers is a big part of what we do, and we’ve negotiated some of the strongest contracts in the region.

When they say “OE324 has turned away some public-sector groups”
Yes, we have—because we take representation seriously. We don’t collect dues from groups we know we can’t fully support. If a group’s work has no connection to our core industries—construction, heavy equipment, infrastructure—we recommend a better fit. But you are different. Genesee County Road Commission employees are squarely in our wheelhouse. This is the kind of work we know. This is the kind of work we fight for.

When they say “OE324 training is just for apprentices, and your employer doesn’t care about it anyway“
This one might be the most insulting of all—not just to us, but to you. Our training facilities, including the 560-acre Construction Career Center in Howell, serve thousands of journey-level Operating Engineers every year. They’re not just for apprentices—they’re for any member who wants to sharpen their skills, learn something new, or advance their career. And if training matters to you (as it should), we’ll fight to make sure your next contract reflects that. Suggesting that your employer wouldn’t care is exactly the problem—TPOAM seems more concerned with keeping management happy than with getting you what you deserve.

The truth is this: OE324 is built on fighting for workers in construction and infrastructure. This is what we do. It’s who we are. And our track record shows it—from the wages and benefits we win, to the respect we demand, to the training we invest in.

We’re not interested in throwing mud. We’re interested in standing with people who want something better—and helping them get it. That’s what brought us here. That’s why your coworkers reached out. That’s why we’ve committed to this campaign.

And now it’s up to you.

You’re being given a rare chance to make a real decision about your future. Don’t let fear or distraction cloud your choice. If you believe you deserve more—more say, more respect, more investment in your future—this is your opportunity to choose it.

If you have questions, concerns, or just want to talk it out with someone who’ll be honest with you, we’re here. We’re not going anywhere, and we won’t stop standing up for you