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.”
HELENA — When President Donald Trump announced a plan last week to import more beef from Argentina, it drew quick criticism from ranchers in Montana. Now, Montana’s members of Congress say they’re pushing the administration to change course.
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines told MTN he quickly began hearing from Montanans in the cattle business after reports came out about Trump’s plan.
“The word I would describe is they feel betrayed,” he said.
(Watch the video to hear more reaction from Montana’s congressional delegation.)
Montana’s congressional delegation pushing back on plan to import beef from Argentina
Daines said Montana beef producers have already been under pressure from drought and market forces. He said this step was “an unforced error” by the administration.
All four members of Montana’s congressional delegation are Republicans. They all say the Republican president’s plan was the wrong direction and that they’ve made that case when speaking with administration leaders.
U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, who represents Montana’s western congressional district, says he understands why Trump wanted to tackle high beef prices, but that this wasn’t the right way for him to do it.
“Having a healthy cattle industry, having a healthy poultry industry and having a healthy supply chain for food is really national security,” he told MTN. “So he understands that, and I think we’re going to see some action in making sure or calming a lot of the fears from the cattlemen out there.”
Earlier this year, Daines visited Argentina and met with its conservative president, Javier Milei, during a South American tour advocating for Trump’s trade policies. He said his opinions on the country and its government don’t play any role in his feelings on this proposed deal.
“I don’t care if this is Argentinian beef or beef coming from anywhere else in the world,” he said. “The answer for what’s going on right now in the markets is not to import more beef – bottom line. It doesn’t matter where it comes from; it happens to be Argentina.”
Daines said it would be better for Montana’s cattle industry for the U.S. to focus on opening export markets rather than import markets. In 2017, Daines celebrated an agreement that led to China buying millions of dollars in Montana beef – but he said Thursday that the country has shut the doors to American beef during the ongoing trade dispute with the Trump administration.
“We were shipping over $1 billion a year in beef last year, and now it’s gone to zero,” he said.
In a statement to MTN, Sen. Tim Sheehy said he’s been talking with Trump and his team, looking for a path forward.
“Empowering hardworking ranchers who feed America and lowering prices for American families at the grocery store are not mutually exclusive,” he said. “Both can be accomplished by lowering input costs and providing a reliable, pro-growth environment for producers so ranchers can grow their operation, capture more of the value they create, and feed the nation with affordable, healthy, high-quality beef.”
Zinke and Daines say they also see areas where the federal government can make moves that will benefit both Montana ranchers and Montana consumers. Daines wants Congress to do more to tackle the huge market share four large packing companies have in the beef industry – a situation he calls a “monopoly.”
“Our ranchers don’t set the price; that price is set for them,” he said.
Zinke wants to put additional emphasis on country-of-origin labeling for beef.
“In Montana, we have a brand and that brand has value,” he said. “When it’s made in Montana, you know it’s at the top, the quality is there. And our ranchers sell premium product – that’s important.”
Daines said he supports country-of-origin labeling also, though he wants to make sure any additional steps the U.S. takes doesn’t lead to unintended consequences or retribution from countries like Canada.
WESTERN MONTANA — Here’s a look at Western Montana’s top news stories for Wednesday.
The University of Montana removed Business Professor Anthony Richard Pawlisz from faculty after he was charged with criminal endangerment in Ravalli County court. Pawlisz allegedly pulled a gun on a man and fired a shot into the air after a fight outside of a bar in Florence on Aug. 17, according to court documents. His former class will continue under Professor Udo Fluck. (Read the full story)
Nathaniel Luke Smith pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct on Monday after posing a threat to Mission High School on Oct. 8, which prompted increased police presence while classes continued. Smith is also serving a three-year deferred sentence for intimidation from an incident in November 2024. (Read the full story)
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte said he will not be using state funds to temporarily cover SNAP benefits for nearly 78,000 enrolled Montanans if federal funding runs out on Nov. 1. Amidst a government shutdown, he said it’s a federal responsibility — despite calls from Democrats and food banks to use leftover state money. (Read the full story)
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Attorneys say the City of Denver doesn’t have enough money to pay clients’ settlements, but the city disagrees
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