|
FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER
Greetings Local 44 Brothers and Sisters! Happy December and welcome to winter as well. Our work picture has slowed considerably with Mother Nature unexpectedly throwing multiple haymakers at everyone. However, the snow has been wonderful for the stretch run of hunting season. I hope you all have had an opportunity to fill your freezers with your favorite game of choice.
During last month’s article, I discussed Weingarten Rights and their importance for all union members. This month, I have been following the many Companies across the U.S. who have been exercising their rights to organize. Amazon, Apple, Google, and Starbucks employees have really started quite the trend of organizing and it seems to be spreading like wildfire. In the last few months, workers have been organizing at a pace this country hasn’t seen since the Great Depression. Why? Well, as many of you already know, unions exist to represent the interests of workers who form the membership. Under U.S. labor law, the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 is the primary statute which gives the U.S. unions rights. The rights of members are governed by the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959. Your IBEW is currently the 9th largest labor union and one of the oldest unions in the United States, founded in 1891. In addition, I would like to further discuss 3 important reasons to protect the right to unionize and empower all American workers. Unions promote a healthy democracy, economic justice, and social justice. 1. Unions are democratically run organizations that have always been and continue to be the most powerful and effective counterbalance to the influence of corporate money and power in our American democracy. Union members are also more likely to take advantage of their right to vote and engage in the legislative process. In a nutshell, unions exist to ensure working families have a voice. 2. Economic justice. Historically speaking, wealth inequality is at its lowest when union membership is at its highest. That’s because unions improve working conditions and wages for all workers, hold corporations accountable, and ensure the rules of the economy work for the people who do the work. Even non-union workers receive financial benefits when union membership is high because employers are forced to compete against good union contracts. It is a proven statistic that women and minorities also have higher wages and better benefits in unionized workplaces. 3. Social justice. Unions have been essential to narrowing the wage gaps between women and men, fighting workplace discrimination, and promoting community justice. As an example, the civil rights movement aligned itself with unions because of the central role collective action plays in the struggle for social justice. In fact, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated while taking part in the Memphis sanitation-workers strike, just as he was entering into a broader social justice strategy that engaged the working class on every level. In conclusion, without strong unions, social justice will remain unattainable. And, all workers deserve to know their legal rights, including the right to organize. Your right to unionize is heavily protected by U.S. Federal Law. Be union, buy union, support union, and know your rights!
Have a happy & safe Holiday Season!
In Unity,
Scott Klungland
406-565-6839
FROM THE ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER
My brother, Michael has often described me as “a student who was given books and given books, and all I did was eat the covers.” I can’t argue with that statement because it is partially true. Keep in mind that he is my older brother, and I am the youngest, not to mention he was one of those straight A students who never had homework and made school and any of his other pursuits look easy. I wasn’t that self-motivated, as I have already shared with you, my motivation came from a different place. I was motivated by how Red Forman from “That 70’s Show” motivated his son Eric, by putting his foot somewhere unpleasant. It’s amazing how much my father has in common with Red Forman. Anyway, my brother also has always made fun of me for finding true motivation in the most unoriginal places. One such place is the “YouTube MotivationHub.” “MotivationHub is for those that are courageous enough to take a stand towards changing their lives and chasing their dreams. We partner with some of the top motivational speakers to create the greatest motivational speech videos.” As you see by their “mission statement,” corny is a word that comes to mind, and once again my brother has solid ground to make fun of me, but 3 or 4 years ago someone shared with me a video that I have tried to share with anyone that will watch it, and in my short time teaching at Highlands College, we shared it with all of our students. So, if you are anything like me, and appreciate motivation that other people can give you, I promise you are going to love this. Even if you are a self-motivated person like my older brother, I’m pretty sure even he would appreciate this, though he would never admit it. So please type this into the “Google.” I hope you like it, and share it. Admiral McRaven Leaves the Audience SPEECHLESS | One of the Best Motivational Speeches - YouTube
Your Brother,
Kyle Hintz
DUES INCREASE REMINDER
The Delegates of the 40th 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 $4.00 for “A” members starting after you have paid through December 2022. The new Basic “A” rate will be $48.00 monthly. The Basic “BA” rate will increase $2.00 and the new rate will be $27.00 monthly. Any member that is currently paid into year 2023 will have a balance due on their account. Any member that is on dues deduct with your employer; they will not start to deduct the extra dollars until January 2023 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.
RETIRED MEMBERS
Local 44 would like to congratulate the following member who has retired from the trade:
Darvin Henry
Best wishes for a long and happy retirement!
MEMBERSHIP & EMPLOYER DEVELOPMENT
IBEW Membership is not a spectator sport!
In the Bozeman area they had a meeting talking about how to get RENEW started in their area. Some of the things that they discussed doing are a tailgate at the Cat-Griz game on Saturday November 19th game starts at 12 pm. If this is a go, look for a IBEW 44 RENEW banner in the regular parking lot, and if you have poker chips, hats and t-shirts will be there to exchange or buy. A “BIGGEST RACK” contest with date and time to be finalized after the General Hunting season is over possibly December 10th. The Bozeman group also talked about doing a sled poker run in West Yellowstone this winter, when the weather warms back up. Next year a Pub/Putt competition, just for some starter ideas.
When initially the idea of making this your own, it was vague for the most part and very open ended. What the Bozeman group looks to be doing is a fun social group. This is a very workable model for any of the cities. If groups wanted to take on a community project such as Habitat for Humanity, a food drive or a toy collection like Toys for Tots. A study group to help each other make it through the apprenticeships or to even learn more about what the IBEW is and the roles of the officers. Another idea would be to help with the local Stan Dupree Golf scramble that is put on every August. Again, this is meant for 35 and younger to be active within the group, but any functions that RENEW puts on if they want can be open to any person, anyone can participate in those activities, the more the merrier!
The idea here is to find what interests members the most to do, to get involved to find activities that make younger members want to be involved. Any one of us are here to help, myself, Scott, Kyle, Eric, the E-Board, just ask we will help out and answer questions.
Legislative Note
Bill draft LC0508 this is a request to “Revise move over emergency vehicle laws to include highway maintenance vehicles”. What is needed is for anyone that has had a near miss while working on roadways to either tell your story before the committee or to submit that story to the committee in writing. Anyone that is willing to do this in person. Ideally someone from a line crew, someone from a tree trimming crew and anyone from locators, willing to tell what it is like to try to do your work while having vehicles driving at full speed in your work zone. This amendment to the bill would protect you while restoring power or clearing the lines from vegetation or even just doing locates near the roadways.
Brotherhood is NOT a title… It’s a COMMITMENT!
Safety Item: Get free, confidential crisis counseling 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
Keep staying hydrated during the cooler weather. It is as important now.
Fraternally,
Dwight Rose
D988003
406-459-3548
dwight@ibew44.org
DECEMBER UNIT MEETINGS
Great Falls Dec. 05, 2022 6:00 PM Great Falls Labor Temple
Shelby Dec. 06, 2022 5:00 PM MRE Shop
Lewistown Dec. 07, 2022 5:30 PM Fergus Electric
Billings Dec. 08, 2022 5:30 PM NWE Service Center
Line Construction Dec. 10, 2022 10:00AM Helena Labor Temple
Helena Dec. 19, 2022 5:00 PM Helena Labor Temple
Bozeman Dec. 20, 2022 5:00 PM Bozeman Labor Temple
Missoula Dec. 21, 2022 6:00 PM Missoula Labor Temple
Butte Dec. 22, 2022 5:30 PM Local 44 Office
CANCELED UNIT 104 CHRISTMAS PARTY
Unfortunately due to a scheduling conflict, Unit 104 has to cancel the annual Christmas Party this year.
|
