Montana Highway Patrol troopers secured a 10.5% salary increase following a new contract with the state Department of Justice. During negotiations, troopers considered joining the Fraternal Order of Police, a national police union, over the Montana Federation of Public Employees but ultimately maintained their current union affiliation.
The Association of Montana Highway Patrol Troopers initially filed a petition to decertify from the Montana Federation of Public Employees, the state’s largest public workers’ union, to explore collective bargaining with the Fraternal Order of Police. This petition was withdrawn when a tentative agreement was reached with the Department of Justice in late September. The petition needed 30% employee support, but details remain undisclosed following the withdrawal.
The Montana Federation of Public Employees did not comment on the decertification attempt. The Department of Labor and Industry began decertification protocols, but the number of signatures was not disclosed. On October 10, the troopers ratified their new agreement, which includes a 10.5% pay raise and retroactive pay to July 1, marking the expiration of the previous contract.
The 2025 Legislature approved $5.4 million for these salary increases. MFPE spokesperson Sam Telling noted that around two dozen law enforcement affiliates, including the Montana Highway Patrol, are linked with MFPE. The Fraternal Order of Police operates in several northwest Montana counties, providing bargaining services, though they did not comment on the situation.
The Montana Highway Patrol has refrained from revealing how the decertification petition influenced negotiations.
This story was updated on Oct. 15, 2025, to reflect the $5.4 million allocation by the 2025 Legislature for trooper pay increases.
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