Two legislative efforts aimed at diminishing organized labor were recently rejected by the Montana Legislature. A right-to-work bill now faces uncertainty as it nears its initial committee review. On February 21, Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, requested that the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee set aside his Senate Bill 277. This bill aimed to stop public employers from automatically deducting union dues. The committee complied with Regier’s request.
“There’s a lot of times in this building we have good ideas, but not the right timing,” Regier said during his brief testimony. “This bill has some good ideas, but I think timing could be a little better.” Despite failing to secure votes, Regier remains optimistic about similar future legislation.
Senate Bill 277 followed the rejection of Senate Bill 94 by Sen. John Fuller, R-Kalispell, which sought to block public employers from compensating workers for union activities. The Senate opposed SB 94 with a 21-29 vote. All 18 Senate Democrats and a group of Republicans, including Sen. John Esp, R-Big Timber, and Sen. Mike Yakawich, R-Billings, voted against it. “I am supporting my district, where there is a large population of labor workers, both Republican and Democrat,” Yakawich stated. Esp declined to comment.
During SB 94’s extended committee hearing, union advocates countered claims that government funds political agendas. Twenty-six union members and private citizens opposed the bill, while academics and think tanks supported it. Darin Gaub, State Freedom Caucus Network director, criticized the opposition’s on-the-clock testimony, arguing it demonstrated state-backed political advocacy. Al Ekblad, a veteran labor advocate, urged against the bill, stating the efficiency of established employer-union relationships.
The biennial right-to-work initiative by conservative Republicans, Senate Bill 376 from Sen. Mark Noland, R-Bigfork, will soon be reviewed. Despite past failures, proponents remain hopeful. Amanda Curtis, president of Montana Federation of Public Employees, acknowledged the rejection of SB 94 and SB 277 but remained wary due to ongoing anti-labor efforts. “It’s not over till it’s sine die,” Curtis noted. Jason Small, Montana AFL-CIO executive secretary, expects SB 376 to face similar opposition.
Henry Kriegel, from Americans for Prosperity, plans to back SB 376, citing the same reasons as for SB 94 and SB 277. On February 17, labor advocates rallied at the Capitol despite frigid weather, prompting discussions with legislators. Kriegel emphasized that lawmakers should represent those unable to attend such rallies. The defeat of SB 94 and SB 277 has not discouraged Kriegel, who champions a fair and equitable workplace, expressing unwavering optimism.
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