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FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER
Hello Local 44 members. I recently attended one of the largest LAMPAC (Labor and Management Public Affairs Committee) conferences in many years. It was held in San Diego, CA which probably contributed to its attendance numbers. The conference theme was centered around the 2025 Energy Industry Outlook with emphasis toward navigating policy & economic uncertainty. The selected panel discussions were very interesting and, in my opinion, relevant to the overall spirit of establishing positive labor and management relations through cooperative efforts. The conference attendees are made up of IBEW leaders and influential executive management personnel of various Utility companies. Local 44 has consistently participated in this conference for many years and I believe it provides good value for our membership. As I listened to the speakers, my mind wondered toward the IBEW Code of Excellence (COE). The Code is designed to ensure the highest standards of excellence on every IBEW worksite. Our members commit to displaying the core values in everything that we do, and those values are known as SPARQ. S (safety) P (professionalism) A (accountability) R (relationships) Q (quality). When combined, the objective of these values is to comply with a standard of excellence. The main goals are to create a culture of safety as the top priority, holding one another accountable to the standards, providing a mechanism for addressing issues on the jobsite, and promoting a sense of pride and professionalism in our work. The IBEW has had a long history of productive labor-management partnerships, and the COE has proven successful when our employer’s partner with Local 44. Mutual partnerships have created a solutions-driven proactive program that benefits our members and employers. Once implemented, ongoing awareness and communication is a core component of keeping the values of the COE at the forefront of every job. Local 44 is committed to ensuring the COE’s values stay relevant and fresh with all our employer relationships. My request for the entire membership is to educate, internalize, and then demonstrate those SPARQ values. Unity is the key to long-term success.
In Unity,
Scott Klungland
FROM THE ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER
Over the past month most of the phone calls I have received have ended with the members saying that it would be nice to have a magical form of communication between the Hall and the members. They are saying their voices are not being heard, people not knowing when meetings are, or just blatantly accusing us of not caring enough to contact members individually because we should reach out and get everyone’s opinion on any given matter!? It may be a shock to most of you but none of us are perfect and all any of us can do is our best with the knowledge we have. Some of you may not agree with what I am about to point out, but here it goes! For the first year or better as the Assistant Business Manager one of my main goals was to connect us all by any means necessary. I look back now and can see many ways that do not work to try to communicate with a group of around 1,200 people. Just like Thomas Edison, I do not think I have failed, I have just weeded out a bunch of ways that did not work and gained some knowledge along the way! I will not lie that I used to beat myself up trying to think what we were doing wrong or what I could do differently? We have tried email blasts, text messages, apps on our phones, steward text groups, and the list goes on! The responses from the members are my favorite!
“Who checks emails, I don’t have the time”
“I silenced the text thread because it’s annoying”
“These apps are stupid and send me notifications all the time”
“I don’t know how to work my phone”
“I turned off notifications from the app”
“I don’t think you have my contact info”
AND IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
If only there was a form of communication that we could send that shows up where all other forms of crucial information show up like taxes, bills, and all other forms of time sensitive items that need immediate attention or action!? Then maybe we could have someone drive to every large city location in the state of Montana say once a month to have an in-person meeting where we could talk about ANY issue that ANY member has!? The only problem would be setting up the dates of the meetings, the time, and a specific location and how to communicate that!? Well, I guess if anyone has any other ideas besides getting involved and holding ourselves accountable, I am all ears!
Your Brother,
Kyle Hintz
(406) 565-3250
khintz@ibew44.org
BENEFICIARIES
If your life circumstances change, please contact the Hall. If you get married, divorced or just want to update your beneficiaries we can get you the correct forms to update them. In the last year we have had numerous cases where beneficiaries were not updated when someone gets married or divorced. If you do not update your beneficiaries, then your benefits might go to someone you no longer intend, such as an ex-spouse. No matter what a Will or Legal Document says the money will be sent to whoever you named as your beneficiary.
MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZER
I would like to announce that I will be putting on an outside benefits class for anyone interested in attending. This will be for the educational purpose of understanding our outside benefits (NEAP, NEBF, LINECO, 8th District Pension & Annuity, & A card pension) on May 17th from 12:30pm to 2:30pm at the M.S.L.C.A.T. Training Center in Helena. This class is intended to give a brief description and understanding of the basics. The biggest problem we have in construction is the rumors of our benefits and individuals listening to another member that is not quite sure but speaks of things as though they are the expert on the subject. So, if you want to become knowledgeable on this subject and stop listening to those that think they know, then please show up and learn for yourself. Anyone that has worked construction in the past and still has their Pension and Annuity is also more than welcome to attend.
The 25th Stan I. Dupree annual memorial golf tournament is scheduled for Saturday August 16th at Fairmont Hot Springs golf course. This year’s event will follow the same pattern as last year with a shotgun start tournament followed by a buffet style luncheon. We have blocked off a group of rooms at the resort at a reduced rate and the R.V. park is also available for camping for anyone interested. Please contact me @ 406-533-8170 to get your team registered along with any questions. Hope to see everyone there and enjoy the day together.
Your Brother,
Boe Shuman
JOURNEYMAN UPGRADES
Local 44 would like to congratulate the following member for achieving Journeyman status:
Matthew Welsh – Journeyman Lineman
Great job and best wishes for a great career!
IN MEMORIAM
Local 44 mourns the loss of the following members:
Allan Peterson – Retired Journeyman Lineman – passed away 3/11/25
Douglas Dobson – Retired Journeyman Lineman – passed away 3/23/25
Daniel Dahlen – Journeyman Lineman – passed away 3/31/25
Arthur Shellenberg – Retired Journeyman Lineman – passed away 4/2/25
Scott Czywczynski – Journeyman Lineman – passed away 4/17/25
Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of these Brothers.
MAY UNIT MEETINGS
Great Falls May 05, 2025 6:00 PM Great Falls Labor Temple
Havre May 06, 2025 6:00 PM Elks Lodge
Lewistown May 07, 2025 5:30 PM NWE Service Center
Billings May 08, 2025 5:30 PM NWE Service Center
Line Construction May 17, 2025 9:00 AM Helena Labor Temple
Helena May 19, 2025 5:00 PM Helena Labor Temple
Bozeman May 20, 2025 6:00 PM Bozeman Labor Temple
Missoula May 21, 2025 6:00 PM Missoula Labor Temple
Butte May 22, 2025 5:45 PM Local 44 Office
Inside…
From the Business Manager Front Page
News to Use Page Two
News to Use Continued Page Three
Unit Meeting Schedule Page Four
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