FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER

This month I’d like to discuss sustained excellence in the workplace.  I understand that everyone might have a different definition of excellence, which is reality, but I’d like to focus on this concept as it pertains specifically to the workplace.  The IBEW has their Code of Excellence standards which are solid, and our members should adhere to those always. In the past I have written articles describing the IBEW COE and its importance in our industry.  I believe sustained excellence in the workplace is achievable through a focused strategy of growth, establishing culture, and consistent actions.  We must strive for continuous improvement and develop a mindset that every process, every product, and every day jobsite’s can be improved. I believe excellence can be achieved with small breakthroughs and those can start with something like your willingness to participate in a pre-job briefing discussion (a tailboard).  When every team member is briefed and then bought in on a particular job task, safety is emphasized, and job excellence has a chance to shine through. Mentorship and the power of redundancy is also a great way to protect job consistency with our high IBEW standards.  Be open and willing to share information and take the time to teach the next generation. Ask yourself, what do I hang my hat on?  Am I consistently trying to be adaptable and flexible or am I acting in a complacent robotic manner without having defined standards of excellence.  Once again, we all have our own definition of what workplace excellence is and should be.  We have established benchmarks.  I’m simply challenging you to think deeper, and outside your personal comfort zone, to establish your own set of standards that you define as excellent.  As IBEW Local 44 members, we have always raised the bar of quality, safety and performance.  Lastly, sustaining excellence to me is less about heroic one-off achievements and more about building excellent habits job to job, day in and day out.  Embodying the mindset of continuous improvement, dedicated learning, and evolving standards of positive culture are necessary for sustained success.  Together let’s choose to make our workplaces the safest, most productive, and filled with the most highly trained and skilled workers in the industry.  Remember, how you do one thing is how you do everything.

In Unity,

Scott Klungland

FROM THE ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER

As everyone is aware we go through structured training during our careers, we start with our apprenticeship and then have training that follows through the years to sharpen our skills and knowledge of our trade and industry.  These classes we attend that are sponsored by our employers are always worthwhile and we achieve a vast amount of knowledge through them.  The I.B.E.W. also offers training that we can benefit from greatly and become a well-rounded union member with the knowledge that helps achieve our goals.  Local 44 has decided once again to provide a training class available to all members that will educate everyone that decides to attend.  A “Collective Bargaining Training Class” will be offered on January 8-10, 2026, in Butte.  This class is worthwhile attending and will help educate everyone on how the process of bargaining goes during negotiations.  You do not have to be part of your respective bargaining team to attend, and our main objective is to educate everyone in this process.  We hope to achieve a stronger membership by offering everyone the opportunity to attend.  If you would like to participate in this class, please reach out to myself (406-533-8170) or Scott (406-565-6839).  We will have to have the roster finalized by the last week of November so if you are interested, please do not procrastinate and get on the roster ASAP.

Your Brother,

Boe Shuman

(406) 533-8170

LOCAL 44 TRAVELING MEMBERS

If you are a Local 44 member and your Home Funds in ERTS are 8^th District Pension (DB) & 8^th District Annuity (DC) you should contact the Hall if you are traveling out of the jurisdiction to work. 

If you are not vested in the 8^th District Pension Fund, we highly recommend for you to participate in the DC (Defined Contributions) to DB (Defined Benefits) program.  When you work in Annuity only Locals (example: California) and you reciprocate your funds, everything will go to your annuity account (DC), but nothing goes into your pension account (DB), which means you might not get vested in your pension fund unless you sign the Authorization & Release Form and return it to Local 44.  It takes five (5) years of contributions to vest.

If you are already vested it will continue to add a portion of your benefit to your pension fund.  Currently at retirement time you may draw a full pension at the age of 62 when you have 30 vesting credits.  If you do not have 30 vesting credits at that time you would receive a 9% reduction (i.e. 3% per year reduction for ages 62 to 65).  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Stefanie or Stephanie at the Hall.

JOURNEYMAN UPGRADES

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

Colton Barton – Journeyman Lineman

Ryan Bingham – Journeyman Lineman

Keaton Burcham – Journeyman Lineman

Keith Byrd – Journeyman Gasman

Austin Endy – Journeyman Lineman

Christopher Graves – Journeyman Lineman

Parker Jostad – Journeyman Lineman

Wyatt Merkel – Journeyman Lineman

Stephen Pulaski – Journeyman Lineman

Joseph Trippi – Journeyman Lineman

Dalton Walker – Journeyman Lineman

Wesley Wilson – Journeyman Lineman

Great job and best wishes for a great career!

NOVEMBER UNIT MEETING

Great Falls                   Nov. 03, 2025             6:00 PM          Great Falls Labor Temple

Havre                          Nov. 04, 2025             6:00 PM          Elks Lodge     

Lewistown                  Nov. 05, 2025             5:30 PM          Fergus Electric

Billings                        Nov. 06, 2025             5:30 PM          NWE Service Center

Line Construction       Nov. 15, 2025             10:00 AM        Helena Labor Temple

Helena                         Nov. 17, 2025             5:00 PM          Helena Labor Temple

Bozeman                     Nov. 18, 2025             6:00 PM          Bozeman Labor Temple

Missoula                      Nov. 19, 2025             6:00 PM          Missoula Labor Temple

Butte                           Nov. 20, 2025             5:45 PM          Local 44 Office