FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER

Recently Kyle, Boe, and I attended Construction Organizing Membership Education Training (COMET) and Code of Excellence (COE) Training classes in Salt Lake City.  Our 8^th District Education Department, as well as some of our International Reps, held these training courses.  The Organizing Department was also represented and assisted.  Attending these courses was well worth our time and we learned a lot of new material.  You may be hearing about some of these courses currently being held at the Mountain States Training Center.  Boe is proactively teaching these courses, so please reach out to him for an upcoming refresher training session.

So, what is the meaning and purpose behind COMET?  Well, it is an IBEW organizing campaign to increase our membership, which in turn increases our market share, and that result is then improved bargaining strength.  One of COMET’s goals is to engage our active members participation in living and breathing the organizing concept.  This effort takes every rank-and-file member of Local 44 to commit to discussing the benefits and opportunities for better employment.  Together we can build greater bargaining power, stay competitive with wages & benefits, and meet the growing demands and expectations of our employers.

Next, the IBEW Code of Excellence ties together with COMET because if we are to increase our membership through organizing, then we also need to deliver the highest quality of work by using the best skill sets and work practices on every jobsite every day.  The COE values make up an acronym called SPARQ:  Safety, Professionalism, Accountability, Relationships, and Quality.  Combined, these values lay the framework for the IBEW’s approach to excellence on every job, every day.  Our successes are defined through our employer partnerships, our respect for the project at hand, and our commitment to working safely while maximizing productivity.  Local 44 members are the most highly qualified, trained, and skilled craftsmen in the electrical industry.  I challenge every one of you to choose to show up each day with your ‘A’ game, based on the COE values.  Your winning attitude combined with your training, skillset, and attention to safety will be noticed. 

Finally, choose to create that standard of excellence and don’t settle for anything less than a job done right the first time and the only time.  Plan your work and work your plan.

In Unity,

Scott Klungland

406-565-6839

WORDS FROM A TRUE BROTHER!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

3 weeks out from his injury and Myles is kicking ass. He told his team he would be leaving rehab walking and everyone believes he will do it. He does 4-5 therapy sessions a day. Increasing his strength, endurance and range of motion.  The workouts are brutal but he gives it his all with a smile on his face. In true Myles fashion, he jokes and teases with all his therapists, making everyone laugh. He did stop a session to make sure everyone knew how to make a proper square knot and then made them all practice while he gave feedback. I’ve been stopped, more than once, and asked if he is always so smiley.

Things wouldn’t be going so well if we didn’t have the absolute, amazing support of our community. We have wonderful support of friends and family, who have made sure our boys and myself are well taken care of.  Calls and texts from old friends have kept him from getting too down.

And we have The Linemen. I have always known that linemen are a brotherhood but until this happened, I didn’t understand the depth that they care for each other. Calls and texts reminding Myles what a tough, stubborn SOB he is, help push him when things are painful and tough.  Linemen are responsible for this awesome benefit and a gofundme that has overwhelmed us with the incredible generosity.

Myles has two main goals. Be able to enjoy the outdoors with his boys. And continue to be a lineman. With all of you on his side, we know it will happen.

Thank you. From the bottom of our hearts. We love all of you and are so lucky to have you on Team Kelly.

Last but not least we are happy to report that the goal set by Myles to walk out of the rehab facility in Utah was achieved.  He’s walking, with assistance of braces, but he’s doing it.  Thank you, again, for all the support.

Love

Ali and Myles Kelly

FROM THE ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER

Not that I can add much to the above thank you, but I have to give credit where credit is due.  We had a handful of non-represented Brothers and Sisters from NWE help organize, plan and execute the March for Myles.  These individuals made the event run incredibly smooth.  They asked not to be named but we know who you are, you know who you are, and this act of kindness and generosity didn’t go unnoticed. Thank you to Brother Bruha and the NWE Fun Committee for who you are and what you do!  Also, a special shout out to Josh Krzan, after winning the Montana Knife Company knife donated by RENEW, he generously donated it back to be raffled off again at the Walking With Myles event.  This event will be at Hellgate Lions Park in Missoula on Saturday April 13^th at 3 PM.  This is going to be a great event, all are invited, there will be a chili feed, bingo, an online auction, and hopefully some cornhole.  BYOB.  Hope to see you there.

P.S. Congrats to Dave Dixon on winning the 6.5 RENEW Raffle.

Can’t thank you all enough,

Your Brother,

Kyle Hintz

406-565-3250

khintz@ibew44.org      

MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZER

I recently put on a COMET course for the MSLCAT 2^nd year apprentice class.  The content talks about the power of numbers, what the I.B.E.W. did wrong in the past, and how to fix those issues moving forward.  We need to recognize and be aware of these issues, with the most important one being that we need everyone and should not keep individuals out just because of feeling they are not worthy.  Our bargaining power comes with the number of members we represent, those members can be from all and every type of work being done within our industry.  From the start of every workday until the end we encounter different individuals that in some way relate to our jobs being completed.  If we could get all those people to be part of our group that could result in an enormous amount of bargaining power.  We also need to allow the individuals that are performing the work outside of the union into our union.  From that we build our bargaining power and reduce the available workforce of our competitors.  Although this topic is sometimes received as negative it also is what our forefathers did wrong, they acted in a negative and righteous way that through time made the I.B.E.W. a minority when they once were the majority.  We need to become the majority once again.  That can happen through realizing the work is being done with or without us so if we control the market in trained workforce then we can control the market when it comes time to negotiate our contracts.   

The golf tournament is set for Saturday August 24^th at the Fairmont resort.  We have blocked off rooms at a reduced rate for the weekend and will have a shotgun start followed by a catered luncheon.  We are currently working on getting as many sponsors as possible and could use all the help we can get, so if anyone knows of someone interested it is $100 a hole.  This gets their name on a poster board at a tee box. Also, and most importantly we will have to cap the teams involved at 20, it is first come so please sign up as early as possible to reserve your teams’ spot.   

Your Brother,

Boe Shuman

406-533-8170

RENEW

My name is Patrick Bonney and I am the newest chair of the RENEW next gen program.  When I was first asked about joining RENEW I had no idea what this was all about, but with that I jumped on an airplane taking off to the state of Louisiana.  I figured, if anything, I could finally see an alligator.  When I got there and sat through the conference it dawned on me that this was much more than a getaway.  It was an opportunity for me to make a difference, to be a part of something that has the potential to do great things for my Brothers I work next to everyday on the right-of-way and the community I work in.  I always have been family oriented, but this program gave me a chance to extend that family.  Bringing my 7-5 and my 5-7 together.  We recently held a curling event where members and family came together for a day.  We had pizza, beer, and laughs for 90% of us had never curled before.  With that we are planning more events, such as a bowling tournament on June 22.  Where we will be trying to get everyone together for a fun day in Beautiful Butte America.  I strongly encourage everyone to take this opportunity to not only to engage yourself, become involved with the community, but also strengthen our union. 

RENEW President,

Pat Bonney

RETIRED MEMBERS

Local 44 would like to congratulate Roger Whisman who has retired from the trade.  Best wishes for a long and happy retirement!

APRIL UNIT MEETINGS

Great Falls                  Apr. 01, 2024              6:00 PM          Great Falls Labor Temple

Havre                          Apr. 02, 2024              6:00 PM          Elks Lodge     

Lewistown                  Apr. 03, 2024              5:30 PM          NWE Service Center

            Billings                       April 4, 2024               5:30 PM          NWE Service Center

            Line Construction       Apr. 13, 2024              10:00 AM       Helena Labor Temple

Helena                         Apr. 15, 2024              5:00 PM          Helena Labor Temple

Bozeman                     Apr. 16, 2024              6:00 PM          Bozeman Labor Temple

Missoula                     Apr. 17, 2024              6:00 PM          Missoula Labor Temple

Butte                           Apr. 25, 2024              5:30 PM          Local 44 Office