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FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER
Well, it’s the end of December and the calls have been pulled off the board. I expect the book will fill with hands and we will again be waiting for the winter to break. This is a good time to enjoy family and the Holidays, relax and replenish one’s body and spirit. Many of our brothers will head south for the winter months while others will breakout the sleds and enjoy the snow the season brings. Whatever you decide I wish you all the very best in the New Year.
On another note: a friend, just this morning, walked into the Hall to say goodbye, Marty Simons out of Whitehall is retiring. Best wishes to him and all my amigos that have retired in this past year, I am jealous of all of you and truly proud of each one of you. Thanks for the years of service. Live long and have fun, be safe and enjoy, you earned it you deserve it.
Here at the Hall we have just recently put together a couple of proposals worthy of voting on. One is with ELM Locating and another with Asplundh Tree. By the time you read this we will be signing an agreement or going back to the negotiating table. I want to send a very special thanks to the brothers and sisters that volunteer to be part of the negotiating teams. It is a tough job that gets little thanks.
This January we will be negotiating with Northwestern Energy for the Outage Management System (OMS) group that recently joined our ranks. Shortly after that we will be working on the Vigilante Agreement and then back to Beartooth and Outside Line Construction.
Looking at the New Year and reflecting on years past, give me pause to ask the question, “what will be next?” It is truly hard to say, but this I know, in our future, we must be leaders. Change is happening so fast it is impossible to not see something new almost every day. As much as we would like to stay in our comfort zones the truth is we will be passed by if we don’t act. Look at NorthWestern Energy. Every time we talk with them we hear about the power sales, “revenues are staying flat”. Even with substantial growth in accounts, it is technology “Lexus” shutting off lights, LEDS and other energy efficiencies that have overtaken the growth and reduced energy sales. Now I admire them for seeing the future, the inevitable, but we must too! Nobody can simply stay the course and survive. They are changing, meeting technology head on, for example upgrading even their outdoor lighting across the state further reducing load…but also reducing cost while embracing the future. We will do the same, we are the best, we know the industry, so let’s accept the challenge and lead the way. We are pushing hard for more education in every arena which will lead to more opportunity and greater value.
Brothers and Sisters, enjoy the New Year, be safe and get ready our lives are changing!
In Brotherhood,
Bill
GOOD OF THE UNION
Normally we have unit meetings in Great Falls, Havre, Lewistown/Malta, Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Missoula and Butte. Woody and I have used the summer months to have General Meetings at different outlying areas (Glasgow, Dillon, and Thompson Falls). In addition to this we have quarterly Outside Construction meetings in an attempt to see as many people as we can. With this schedule we often have “Specially Called” Meetings for negotiation purposes. Even with that I can see the need for general membership discussions. So Brothers and Sisters I will remind you, every Unit Meeting is open to every member. I personally invite you to every meeting where next month we will be discussing the value and possibility of an Annual General Membership Meeting.
Bill
FROM THE ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER
Hello everyone and Happy New Year. I hope you and your family are well. As Business Manager Ryan said in his comments about the ongoing ELM and Asplundh negotiations, I would like to personally thank the members who stepped up to the plate to help. We had two new members join the process, one in each negotiation with the company they work at. Both mentioned to me they had no idea how hard negotiating was. If you think you just go in and demand things and get them you are so very wrong. I would encourage every member to do this at least once. We will be having training for both negotiations and steward classes coming up very soon. If you would like to attend, please let us know.
If you made any New Year resolutions I hope one was to attend more union meetings, we would like to here from you. Have fun, be safe out there and we will be seeing you soon.
Woody
MEMBERSHIP & EMPLOYER DEVELOPMENT
During the month of November, I was able to make it to most of the unit meetings throughout the state. It was a pleasure to meet everyone that I did. I also had the privilege of going to the Local 44 Christmas party in Great Falls, Thank You! You guys do a great Job! I had always known that the first Saturday in December was the date, what I didn’t know was the reason or for how long this tradition has been taking place, apparently since 1962 or 63. After a strike in 1962, if I got the facts straight, the left-over strike fund was used to fund a Christmas get together to help promote good will. After that donations and raffles have self-funded it for 55 years. Thank you for the tasty food and getting to meet a whole bunch of Good Brothers!
Last month I asked for info on a few of Montana’s REA’s, I do appreciate the help to identify which are covered by a contract or not. In the jurisdiction of IBEW 44 there are 2 REA’s that are not represented by the IBEW: Sun River Electric Cooperative in Fairfield, and Ravalli County Electric Cooperative based out of Corvallis. I would very much like to talk to employees from those places; if you know of people working for these REA’s please let me know.
If you have not checked out your new web site, please go to www.ibew44.org. If anyone is submitting pictures, please enclose information to go along (date, where, who is in the photos). Please send them to dwight@ibew44.org. Please register for the website, after membership is verified you will have full access to the website.
Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year in 2018!
Fraternally,
Dwight Rose - D988003
406-459-3548
dwight@ibew44.org
JOURNEYMAN UPGRADES
Local 44 would like to congratulate the following members for achieving Journeyman status:
Cole Bruha – Journeyman Lineman
Kyle Robins – Journeyman Lineman
Nick Roman – Journeyman Lineman
Rory Schneider – Journeyman Lineman
Cody Schoonover – Journeyman Lineman
Jordan Smith – Journeyman Lineman
Cole Sullivan – Journeyman Lineman
Kyle Tadday – 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:
Charles Brunell – Journeyman Machinist Senior
Steven Hermanson – Gas Tech Operator
Robert (RJ) Johnson – Journeyman Lineman
Stan Severin – Journeyman Lineman
Steven Wills – Tree Trimmer Foreman
Dennis Young – Journeyman Lineman
Best wishes for a long and happy retirement!
IN MEMORIAM
Local 44 mourns the loss of retired Brother Lars Olesen who passed away on October 30, 2017. Lars joined the IBEW in 1959 and worked as a Journeyman Lineman. He retired from the trade in 1993. Our sincere condolences and sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
Local 44 mourns the loss of Brother Stephen Wilcox who passed away on November 28, 2017. He joined IBEW Local 44 in January 1980 when he went to work at the Montana Power Company. Steve was working as a Journeyman Lineman for NorthWestern Energy until May 2015. Our sincere condolences and sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
JANUARY UNIT MEETINGS
Havre Jan. 02, 2018 6:00 PM Oxford Bar
Malta Jan. 03, 2018 5:30 PM Stretch’s Pizza Restaurant
Billings Jan. 04, 2018 5:00 PM NWE Service Center
Great Falls Jan. 08, 2018 7:00 PM Great Falls Labor Temple
Helena Jan. 15, 2018 5:00 PM NWE Service Center
Bozeman Jan. 16, 2018 5:30 PM Bozeman Labor Temple
Missoula Jan. 17, 2018 6:00 PM Missoula Labor Temple
Butte Jan. 18, 2018 5:30 PM Local 44 Office
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