Montana
Labor complaint over firing of Montana Highway Patrol trooper to continue
HELENA — A labor complaint filed over the firing of a Montana Highway Patrol trooper is set to move forward, after a state investigator found there was enough evidence to justify a full hearing.
The Montana Federation of Public Employees, the union that represents troopers, filed an unfair labor practice charge earlier this year against MHP and the Montana Department of Justice, which oversees it. They claimed Trooper Alicia Bragg, a union leader, was fired because she provided a summary of an MHP employee satisfaction survey to the union, and that DOJ was trying to intimidate employees from exercising their rights as union members. They said, because the document dealt with working conditions, there was a clear right to communicate with the union on that issue.
DOJ denied the union’s claims. They said Bragg’s firing was warranted because she had violated a direct order not to share the document, and that she or MFPE could have asked administrators to provide the document but didn’t. They said the information in the survey was not specifically a “condition of employment.”
In order for the unfair practice charge to continue, an investigator with the state Board of Personnel Appeals had to determine there was “substantial competent evidence” to support the claim. They said there was in this case, saying the climate survey did deal with “terms and conditions of employment” that employees have a right to discuss, and that Bragg’s statement that she shared the information for the benefit of her coworkers indicated an action of “mutual aid or protection.”
This decision was only an initial step in the process. The investigator said the Office of Administrative Hearings will now take over the case to determine whether DOJ and MHP committed an unfair labor practice.
“It was my right, and my responsibility, to communicate about troopers’ working conditions with our union staff,” Bragg said, in a statement released by MFPE Friday. “Everyone at DOJ and MHP serve in law enforcement roles, and I hope this finding of probable merit is a reality check for our leadership. They’re on the wrong side of the law and they’re failing to back our troopers.”
“It’s settled law that union members have a right to advocate for each other and better working conditions.” said MFPE President Amanda Curtis in a statement. “I’m glad the Board of Personnel Appeals sees this for what it is, a local union president acting well within her rights to fulfill her responsibilities.”
In addition to the labor complaint, MFPE also filed a grievance with DOJ, which is currently going to arbitration. In their release, the union said they and the department had agreed to postpone the full hearing in this case until that arbitration is completed.
Sgt. John Metcalfe, MHP’s public information officer, released a statement to MTN of behalf of the agency.
“We deny the union’s allegations and maintain we did nothing wrong,” he said. “This ruling was nothing more than a procedural step and will have no impact on the final outcome. We look forward to defending our position throughout the rest of this process.”
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Montana
Montana Ag Network: The state of the current Farm Bill
![Montana Ag Network: The state of the current Farm Bill Montana Ag Network: The state of the current Farm Bill](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/905d422/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1008+0+36/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd8%2Fa3%2F97bab4b24cc298b57e4c4f8916af%2Fkrtv00003.png)
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, more commonly referred to as the Farm Bill, is a crucial safety net for agriculture producers.
“We’ve been pushing for this new Farm Bill for two years now, and so we’re hoping that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and we’re pushing that it’s finished by the end of this fiscal year,” explained Boyd Heilig, president of the Montana Grain Growers Association (MGGA).
Half of Montana’s crop production is exported oversees, making the export markets critical to Montana farmers, and why MGGA is seeking additional funding for the foreign market development to be added to the new farm bill.
“The Farm Bill in 2018 was good, there’s nothing wrong with it, but we want some enhancements to crop insurance, that’s our number one priority, and some additional funding for market access programs and foreign market development,” said Heilig.
With the current 2018 farm bill, totaling $428 billion over the five years, 76% is in the nutrition category, 8.9% is in crop insurance, 7.3% is in farm commodity programs, and 6.8% is in conservation.
“Each time a Farm Bill is about to expire completely, they throw in an extension because they don’t want to revert back to the program where the farmers get paid what it costs to produce their crops,” said Walter Schweitzer, president of the Montana Farmers Union.
While the fate of the Farm Bill is unknown at this time, Montana farmers are fighting for more funding to protect agriculture production, and with that, national food security.
“Either they’re going to pass some sort of version during the lame duck period, which is between November and the end of January, or they’ll wait until the new president and congress are sworn in to pass a different Farm Bill,” said Schweitzer.
“We know that nothing is going to get done with the Farm Bill until after the election. But we as Montana Grain Growers, we’re pushing to get this farm bill done,” Heilig added.
If another Farm Bill isn’t passed, federal nutrition programs including SNAP are what will be hit the hardest.
In the last Farm Bill, more than 300 billion dollars was allotted for SNAP programs, meaning that funding would no longer be available, taking away those benefits.
“You don’t have one without the other. And the way I see it is we produce these products, this food, these food products, and so if they go into food programs, that’s just a win-win for both of us to give to the needy but use our food that we raised as part of it. And so that’s why it’s always been together, and it hasn’t been separated, so that’s where a lot of the lines are drawn because they don’t want any cuts to SNAP, and the farmers don’t want any cuts to their programs. And so that’s where the typical argument is of the dollars needed, and where do they go,” shared Heilig.
The MGGA has no interest in seeing that happen; they are seeking to keep that funding there, while also allotting more funding to the crop insurance and market access programs.
Montana
What's next for black bear cubs orphaned in Butte? Montana FWP explains
![What's next for black bear cubs orphaned in Butte? Montana FWP explains What's next for black bear cubs orphaned in Butte? Montana FWP explains](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0324783/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1008+0+0/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcc%2F23%2F4d396313432d8283a9705b8c8cff%2Ffwp-bear-cub-butte.jpg)
HELENA — On Wednesday, Aug. 28, a food-habituated black bear sow was shot and killed in Butte by officials with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) after repeated efforts to remove her and her two cubs from populated areas failed.
The cubs were eventually captured and taken to the Montana Wildlife Center in Helena. MTN’s Chet Layman spoke with Wildlife Center Coordinator Ali Pons to find out what’s next for the cubs:
What’s next for black bear cubs orphaned in Butte? Montana FWP explains
WATCH FWP explains decision to euthanize black bear sow in Butte
Montana FWP explains decision to euthanize black bear sow in Butte
Montana
Gillman runs for 2 TDS, Morrison makes 3 FGs to help Montana beat Missouri State
![Gillman runs for 2 TDS, Morrison makes 3 FGs to help Montana beat Missouri State Gillman runs for 2 TDS, Morrison makes 3 FGs to help Montana beat Missouri State](https://gray-ky3-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N2FAM444OBHLVFHAW3AA7JD774.png?auth=bd65f99751b82f76daaa49033ce8e8ea6385f0dd6a604a742794b562970ffc41&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Eli Gillman ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns and Montana held off Missouri State for a 29-24 victory on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Jmariyae Robinson’s 7-yard touchdown run capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive that pulled Missouri State to 26-24 with 4:43 to play. Montana’s Ty Morrison made his third field goal of the game — a 38-yarder— to cap the scoring with 1:38 left.
Back-to-back sacks deep inside Missouri State territory on the Bears’ final possession sealed it for the FCS third-ranked Grizzlies.
Gillman’s 37-yard touchdown run gave the Grizzlies a 7-6 lead late in the first quarter. Morrison’s field goals from 35 and 22 yards stretched the advantage to 12-10 at intermission.
Jayden Becks’ 32-yard run gave the Bears a 17-12 lead early in the third quarter. Montana answered with a Logan Fife 34-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Harris followed by a Gillman 2-yard TD run to take a 26-17 lead with 9:56 to play.
Jacob Clark was 23-of-39 passing for 257 yards with one interception for Missouri State.
Montana advanced to the program’s eighth FCS title game last season but lost to South Dakota State 23-3 and is the reigning Big Sky Conference champions.
Attendance was 26,482, the seventh largest at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
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