Union marches against PMC
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
Members of the local union, recently voted in, at the Pondera Medical Center (PMC) took to the streets on Wednesday afternoon.
Bob Struckman, a communications director for Montana-Change That Works out of Missoula told the I-O, that the union feels it is not being rightfully recognized.
He acknowledged, “that money is not a hot issue here, the issues are no open shop versus a union shop.”
Struckman went on to say,
“They (the PMC administration) are trying to split up the bargaining union. When you have a secret ballot, we’d like them to honor that. That’s the key.”
He also indicated that hospital employees are frustrated that clear and consistent polices that everyone understands are not in place.
Struckman emphasized that Montana Change is not leading the way for the union, “I’m just a spokesperson for the local union here.” The union has approximately 60 members at the PMC and is over 40,000 strong in Washington and Montana.
According to Struckman, management and the union are not far off. Employees who are not union members can work at the hospital and can pay a smaller fee.
“Benefits would be the same by law for everyone,” he noted. “It’s against the law to work for pay increases for some employees, so if there is a union, all the employees get the benefit.”
Wearing purple t-shirts and carrying signs that said, “Honor or Vote,” or “Honk for Patients” the group marched up and down Main Street and met up at the Legion Park for a rally.
Former Conrad Mayor Byron Grubb was on hand and told the members, “I’m a former union member with the post office, I support your cause.”
In a related matter, Struckman said that Montana Change will start an 11-day 23 town tour in an ambulance to promote health care reform in the state.
“We want to connect with locals on two important issues that will rebuild the economy; affordable health care and labor law reform,” he said.
The event will kick off in Great Falls at the State Fair on July 26 and come to Conrad and be in Legion Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a rally to collect stories for the movement for health care reform and letter-writing campaign on July 27.
From Conrad, the campaign will head out to Big Sandy and move on to points east such as Miles City before ending Libby Aug. 7.
For more information, visit their Website at MTChangeThatWorks.org.
UNION REPS Pondera Medical Center union representatives dressed out in purple tee-shirts gather for a group photo on the courthouse steps on Wednesday afternoon before taking off to go up and down Main St. They are protesting stalled negotiations. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
Bob Struckman, a communications director for Montana-Change That Works out of Missoula told the I-O, that the union feels it is not being rightfully recognized.
He acknowledged, “that money is not a hot issue here, the issues are no open shop versus a union shop.”
Struckman went on to say,
“They (the PMC administration) are trying to split up the bargaining union. When you have a secret ballot, we’d like them to honor that. That’s the key.”
He also indicated that hospital employees are frustrated that clear and consistent polices that everyone understands are not in place.
Struckman emphasized that Montana Change is not leading the way for the union, “I’m just a spokesperson for the local union here.” The union has approximately 60 members at the PMC and is over 40,000 strong in Washington and Montana.
According to Struckman, management and the union are not far off. Employees who are not union members can work at the hospital and can pay a smaller fee.
“Benefits would be the same by law for everyone,” he noted. “It’s against the law to work for pay increases for some employees, so if there is a union, all the employees get the benefit.”
Wearing purple t-shirts and carrying signs that said, “Honor or Vote,” or “Honk for Patients” the group marched up and down Main Street and met up at the Legion Park for a rally.
Former Conrad Mayor Byron Grubb was on hand and told the members, “I’m a former union member with the post office, I support your cause.”
In a related matter, Struckman said that Montana Change will start an 11-day 23 town tour in an ambulance to promote health care reform in the state.
“We want to connect with locals on two important issues that will rebuild the economy; affordable health care and labor law reform,” he said.
The event will kick off in Great Falls at the State Fair on July 26 and come to Conrad and be in Legion Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a rally to collect stories for the movement for health care reform and letter-writing campaign on July 27.
From Conrad, the campaign will head out to Big Sandy and move on to points east such as Miles City before ending Libby Aug. 7.
For more information, visit their Website at MTChangeThatWorks.org.
City approves CPD Night Out
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
Council members approved the use of the Lions Club Swimming Pool Park for a police sponsored “National Night Out” (NNO) on Aug. 4.
The national event is in its’ 26th year, but this is the first time it is being held in Conrad.
Chief Gary Dent said that last year over 15,000 communities and 37 million people participated in NNO.
He explained that the community evening is designed to: 1. Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; 2. Generate support for participation awareness; 3. Strengthen neighborhood and community support; 4. Help build police-community partnerships.
From 4-9 p.m. on Aug. 4, people are encouraged to turn on porch and other outside lights and spend the evening outside with friends, neighbors and law enforcement.
“Turning on your outside lights is symbolic,” Dent said, “even if it isn’t dark it doesn’t matter, join us for a fun and informative evening.”
Plans call for a Border Patrol helicopter to land in the park, various K-9 dog demonstrations, live music, GPS demonstrations, the MONT TIP Fish and Game display trailer, a dunking booth and more fun and games are being planned. The council approved the use of the park for this event on a 4-0 vote.
There were eight building permits and one water contract approved. A 911/dispatching contract with the county was also approved.
There was in increase from $11,250 to $12,250, the first in three years.
Sheriff Tom Kuka said, “This is for services rendered and helps offset costs.” However, Mayor John Shevlin felt the city was already paying a significant amount and that taxpayers were being double taxed for the service, “it’s too much.” Nevertheless, the contract was approved on a 4-0 vote by the city aldermen.
Action on Shane McFarland’s use of the Lions Club Swimming Pool Park to teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class was tabled. He was not present at the council meeting.
Gordon Nelson was on hand to talk about an incident with a pit bull dog over Whoop-Up. The animal came up behind him while he was working in his yard and began snarling and growling.
The owner overheard this and took the dog away. No one was bitten or injured. Gordon felt the council needed to look into this. It was noted the city has a vivacious dog ordinance, but it will be looked into again.
During the public comment segment of the meeting – a letter to the council from Laura Erickson was read by her daughter Heather. It addressed the family pass policy at the swimming pool.
In part, Erickson wrote; “I wish to express my concern about an unfair practice put in place by the mayor regarding family pool passes.”
“… Our point to the mayor and now the city council is that any decision about who qualifies for a pool pass needs to be fair across the board. We know of families who have grandchildren who live in another county, married children and children who don’t live at home,” all on the family pool pass.
“Our request is simple” she wrote, “Fairness across the board for all families.”
No action or comment is taken or made during the public comment segment.
Other reports by city supervisors were given and accepted.
The next regular meeting of the city council is July 20, 7:30 p.m. in city hall at 411-1/2 S. Main Street. The public is always encouraged and welcome to attend.
Council members approved the use of the Lions Club Swimming Pool Park for a police sponsored “National Night Out” (NNO) on Aug. 4.
The national event is in its’ 26th year, but this is the first time it is being held in Conrad.
Chief Gary Dent said that last year over 15,000 communities and 37 million people participated in NNO.
He explained that the community evening is designed to: 1. Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; 2. Generate support for participation awareness; 3. Strengthen neighborhood and community support; 4. Help build police-community partnerships.
From 4-9 p.m. on Aug. 4, people are encouraged to turn on porch and other outside lights and spend the evening outside with friends, neighbors and law enforcement.
“Turning on your outside lights is symbolic,” Dent said, “even if it isn’t dark it doesn’t matter, join us for a fun and informative evening.”
Plans call for a Border Patrol helicopter to land in the park, various K-9 dog demonstrations, live music, GPS demonstrations, the MONT TIP Fish and Game display trailer, a dunking booth and more fun and games are being planned. The council approved the use of the park for this event on a 4-0 vote.
There were eight building permits and one water contract approved. A 911/dispatching contract with the county was also approved.
There was in increase from $11,250 to $12,250, the first in three years.
Sheriff Tom Kuka said, “This is for services rendered and helps offset costs.” However, Mayor John Shevlin felt the city was already paying a significant amount and that taxpayers were being double taxed for the service, “it’s too much.” Nevertheless, the contract was approved on a 4-0 vote by the city aldermen.
Action on Shane McFarland’s use of the Lions Club Swimming Pool Park to teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class was tabled. He was not present at the council meeting.
Gordon Nelson was on hand to talk about an incident with a pit bull dog over Whoop-Up. The animal came up behind him while he was working in his yard and began snarling and growling.
The owner overheard this and took the dog away. No one was bitten or injured. Gordon felt the council needed to look into this. It was noted the city has a vivacious dog ordinance, but it will be looked into again.
During the public comment segment of the meeting – a letter to the council from Laura Erickson was read by her daughter Heather. It addressed the family pass policy at the swimming pool.
In part, Erickson wrote; “I wish to express my concern about an unfair practice put in place by the mayor regarding family pool passes.”
“… Our point to the mayor and now the city council is that any decision about who qualifies for a pool pass needs to be fair across the board. We know of families who have grandchildren who live in another county, married children and children who don’t live at home,” all on the family pool pass.
“Our request is simple” she wrote, “Fairness across the board for all families.”
No action or comment is taken or made during the public comment segment.
Other reports by city supervisors were given and accepted.
The next regular meeting of the city council is July 20, 7:30 p.m. in city hall at 411-1/2 S. Main Street. The public is always encouraged and welcome to attend.
Council recognizes Linns for clean-up efforts
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
5TH OF JULY CLEAN-UP From the left, Mayor John Shevlin recognized Leona and Larry Linn for their efforts in cleaning up the ballfields after the July 4th fireworks show. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
The couple went to the ballpark and picked up debris from fireworks shot off on July 4th. Community service workers under the direction of Monica Huffman also picked up fireworks material.
In other business, two building permits, one at 402 S. Maryland for a shed and another at 304 S. Delaware for window replacement were approved.
Two resolutions, R-1001 and R-1002 were passed. The former deals with a fee, $95, for wind turbines and the latter deals with wastewater increases (Story below).
As a result of a misunderstanding, a fence was constructed before the building permit was actually approved by the council. Now applicants will be required to attend a public hearing on building permits and no action can be taken until a written notice is received by the city council.
There was some discussion about the present weed ordinance which does not seem to be working well for the city.
Councilwoman Wendy Judisch will look into the matter and report back at the next council meeting
The council moved to pass R-1003, which is the moving of funds from a revolving SID fund to the General Fund.
The next regular council meeting will be on Aug. 3, 7:30 p.m. in city hall at 411-1/2 S. Main Street.