Operating Engineers (IUOE) 4 Holds Body Meeting in Maine; 350+ Delegates Attend

Over 350 members of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 4 attended the union’s first ever body meeting in Maine in its over 125 years in existence on Wednesday at the Portland Ocean Gateway. Governor Janet Mills appeared as a guest and gave a  speech at the meeting along with Maine Senate President, Troy Jackson, and others.

“I think Governor Mills was blown away by the number of Mainers who attended,” said Robert Burr, Business Agent for IUOE Local 4.

The governor met with Local 4 members and learned about their priorities, including  setting stronger safety standards for using cranes in Maine. Burr said he hopes the  Governor will come around to supporting more pro-worker policies, such as requiring project labor agreements on publicly funded construction projects.

“Comparing Maine to Massachusetts is like night and day when it comes to labor policies,” said Burr. “Governor Maura Healey is 100 percent behind PLAs and organized labor.”

Operating Engineers Local 4 represents more than 5,000 heavy equipment operators, mechanics, surveyors, equipment house employees, wastewater technicians, and apprentices throughout Maine as well as Eastern Massachusetts and Eastern New Hampshire

IUOE 4 members are currently employed on hundreds of job sites across the region. The most visible Operating Engineers operate and maintain heavy construction equipment such as cranes, front-end loaders, excavators, backhoes, and forklifts. Behind the scenes, operating engineers work in site survey, quarries, and equipment houses.