FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER

Brothers and Sisters, welcome to Springtime in the Rockies and happy April.  If you’re like me, and tired of cold, snow and Winter, then you are ready for warmer weather and longer days filled with warm sunshine.  It’s on the way real soon I can feel it.  Anyway, our Local 44 Out of Work Books currently look like this as of this writing.  The Journeyman Lineman Books are a bit congested because of the slow work time as we have 10 on Book 1, 7 on Book 2, zero on Book 3, and one on Book 4.  On our Operator Books, we currently have zero on Book 1, zero on Book 2, 2 on Book 3, and zero on Book 4.  For the Groundman Books, they shape up as follows with 3 on Book 1, one on Book 2, zero on Book 3, and 37 on Book 4.  As for Pole Inspection, we have 2 on Book 1.  The Tree Trimmer Books looks to have zero individuals as well as the Gas Tech Operator and Gas Operator Books.  The Underground Gas Groundman Books 1-4 have 5 individuals signed up.  Please keep an eye out for Job Board changes as our intention is to update our website every Tuesday, if not sooner.  Also, please remind your coworkers about signing up on our website, at www.ibew44.org, for up-to-date information.

Next, I’d like to mention we are currently in 1^st contract negotiations with NorthWestern Energy concerning the new Dave Gates Generating Station (DGGS) employees.  As of this writing, we have finished our 1st negotiating session with the Company and the process is moving along very well.  Hopefully by the time you read this letter, we will have ratified a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the DGGS group.  I will keep you all up to date at our upcoming April unit meetings.  More to come then.

Lastly, I would like to discuss and recognize our Local 44 RENEW group.  Spearheaded by President Pat Bonney, the RENEW members have met for an official meeting to discuss their mission, goals, and exchanged multiple ideas for future gatherings.  I am excited after hearing a report about what these individuals discussed and what their future aspirations might look like.  My hope is that all members, regardless of your age and classification, will choose to get involved and participate with RENEW and encourage more brotherhood and sisterhood within the IBEW.  RENEW, which stands for Reach out and Engage the Next generation of Electrical Workers, was formed to inspire the next generation of IBEW workers, educate workers about the benefits of the IBEW, and foster relationships with other members and local union leadership.  The major goal is to develop the necessary skills to become more active in their local union and play a role in shaping its future.  RENEW’s Officers must be 35 years old or younger but ALL member engagement is strongly encouraged to mentor and provide guidance to foster proud active union membership.  Please choose to participate and help strengthen your local union’s younger members’ confidence to one day become the future leaders of our labor movement.

In Unity,

Scott Klungland

FROM THE ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER

April already!  Soon enough we will all be preparing for opening day of the hunting season again. I hope that everyone has set aside at least a day or two for camping or at least to get out on the water with friends and family this coming summer.  I will turn 40 this year and notice that my second twenty years went a whole lot faster than my first twenty years.  So especially for all of you twenty-somethings reading this please take extra care to enjoy your time with minimal aches and pains.  Before long you will wake up realizing the only thing that stays the same is the weather.

I would like to give RENEW a quick shout out as they are up and rolling again and are making some plans for a highway cleanup to take place in the coming months as well as a hopeful get together or two.  We will keep you posted.  

I found out something recently that I never thought of.  Did you know that you can tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile just by when you see them?  One you see later, and the other is only after a while!

Your Brother,

Kyle Hintz

(406) 565-3250   

khintz@ibew44.org

JOURNEYMAN UPGRADES

Local 44 would like to congratulate the following member for achieving Journeyman status:

Colton Johns – Journeyman Lineman

Great job and best wishes for a great career!

RETIRED MEMBERS

Local 44 would like to congratulate the following members who have retired from the trade:

John Jeffery

Suzette Olson

John Winegar

Best wishes for a long and happy retirement!

IN MEMORIAM

Local 44 mourns the loss of the following retired member:

Garry Baier – Journeyman Lineman – passed away 2/27/25

Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.

MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZER

Well, I don’t know about everyone else, but I am extremely excited about having to set my clocks back one hour!  J.K.  I mean seriously why?  All this does is mess up my bedtime and morning rituals for a week or more.  O’ well I will get over it and just think in about 6 months we will be back to regular time and things will be all screwed up for a couple weeks again.

On another note, RENEW has been having some regular meetings and the young lads are working hard to plan some events for this summer.  They are working with the “adopt a highway” program and a section of Canyon Ferry Road will be theirs to take care of and post their logo on.  They have had a few new members join and are always willing to accept more. So, if you are reading this and are of the age of 35 or younger and want to become part of the group please reach out to Kyle or myself and we will get you to the right place.

I have been busy lately attending career fairs at High Schools and always looking for more contacts at local schools.  So, if anyone has information or contact details for your local school, please reach out to me and share.

Your Brother,

Boe Shuman

DUES INCREASE REMINDER JULY 1, 2025

The Delegates of the 40^th IBEW International Convention, which was held in May 2022, approved amendments to Article IX of the IBEW Constitution.  Accordingly, there will be a Basic dues increase of $1.00 for “A” and “BA” members starting after you have paid through June 2025.  The new Basic “A” rate will be $52.00 monthly, and the new basic “BA” rate will be $29.00 monthly.

Any member that is on dues deduct with your employer, the employer will not start to deduct the extra dollar until July 2025 no matter when it is due for you.  So please pay attention to the receipt that is mailed to you and pay any differences that you may owe.  Printed at the top middle of the receipt will be a negative balance if you owe money, and it will print a positive balance if you have credit. 

MONTANA LINEMAN’S RODEO

The annual Montana Lineman’s Rodeo Raffle Tickets are now available.  Tickets are $5.00 each or a book of 12 tickets for $50.00.  The drawing will be held at the annual Rodeo in Townsend on July 19, 2025, and you need not be present to win.  1^st Prize is a .300 Browning Rifle Package, 2^nd Prize is a Lone Mountain Cooler/Blackstone Grill, and 3^rd Prize is a 251C Stihl Chainsaw.  Tickets are available at the Hall.

APRIL UNIT MEETINGS

Havre                          April 01, 2025             6:00 PM          Elks Lodge     

Great Falls                   April 07, 2025             6:00 PM          Great Falls Labor Temple

Lewistown                  April 09, 2025             5:30 PM          Fergus Electric

Billings                        April 10, 2025             5:30 PM          NWE Service Center

Bozeman                     April 15, 2025             6:00 PM          Bozeman Labor Temple

Missoula                      April 16, 2025             6:00 PM          Missoula Labor Temple

Butte                           April 17, 2025             5:30 PM          Local 44 Office

Helena                         April 21, 2025             5:00 PM          Helena Labor Temple