OPENING REMARKS
2025 Montana AFL-CIO
Constitutional Convention
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Jason Small, Montana AFL-CIO Executive Secretary
I want to thank each and every one of you for the incredible work you do.
The Montana AFL-CIO is where the collective voice of Montana’s working people have come together for more than 130 years.
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As a labor movement, we’ve always understood that we stand stronger, when we stand together.
Another year and another legislative session have come and gone. This year, working families were paying close attention to what was being prioritized and who was working towards building Montana, protecting our workforce, and strengthening our communities.
From the very earliest days of the session, workers faced attacks on unions and our right to organize and collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions.
From school voucher bills, to attacks on nurses, to attempts to curtail our freedom of speech and association, We continued to see some lawmakers push bad bills that waste taxpayers money and our time.
These attacks don’t help build Montana, as a matter of fact they do just the opposite. These attacks only remove wealth and opportunity from the bottom and middle class working families and make it more difficult to attain the American dream that many have talked about over the years.
Many workers across our state are struggling to own their own homes or afford basic necessities that we take for granted right now. Collectively, Union workers have the power to join together and plot the trajectory for the future To make this happen we need several things. We must continue to organize and expand our reach, remember that the power is in the numbers.
We must stay active in the election process and elect leaders who align with our values and help propel our cause.
Workers in every community have played a key role in coordinating our efforts, making sure that our unions aren’t divided, and that we keep our eyes on what matters.
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We are all the benefactors of small groups of workers getting together to solve local problems with statewide impact. And against all odds winning one step at a time.
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We need elected officials that are independent and focused on the needs of our communities. Not elected officials who are worried more about being elevated in their parties. It’s rare for any of us to find ourselves in rooms where we agree on all topics. Giving meaningful voice to the voters and working families means making compromises, being transparent, and taking accountability. In hyper partisan times, there is often too much pressure for elected officials to toe the line and not be responsive to the hard truths of today’s economic realities.
In February, workers successfully defeated another attempt to make Montana a so-called “Right to Work” state.
Hundreds of workers from across Montana showed up at the Capitol in Helena for an early morning hearing, with some driving through the night to get to Helena and voice their opposition. More than 120 workers spoke during this session's “Right to Work” hearing, highlighting the history of Montana as a proud union state and the benefits of working under strong collective bargaining agreements that protect our wages, safety and help fund high quality training centers.
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Every day Montanans are working together to solve difficult problems, provide for our families, and build Montana. While Montana’s legislative session was often heated and filled with theater, real work was accomplished because of legislators who prioritized policy over party on both sides of the aisle.
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Much, much more needs to be done to deal with barriers for people to get into the workforce.
Over the past couple years we have made huge inroads into tribal and historically disadvantaged communities. We have spent many hours working with the tribal employment rights offices and directors across the state. We have introduced MC3 building trades curriculum into high schools, and new programs are being considered in tribal colleges. We’ve worked with Fort Belknap to install one of the first project labor agreements in reservation history. And have proactively expanded our outreach to give young people on reservations some of their first real opportunities to future careers in the trades.
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Good policy is about building Montana through programs that lift everyone up. In 2019 I sponsored the Medicaid expansion bill in the state senate because it is a great example of a building approach to policy. Through additional economic activity as a result of Medicaid, the program has more than paid for itself. More than 200,000 people in our state are covered by Medicaid, including 80,000 children and one in four births. Since Medicaid Expansion, the state has seen the creation of over 7,500 jobs as a direct result of Medicaid, generating $775 million in economic activity.
Medicaid helps small Montana businesses remain competitive with larger corporations by providing healthcare that would otherwise be paid for out of pocket by Montana’s workers, or by the employer. By ensuring access to affordable medical care for Montanans, Medicaid allows working families to stay in Montana and continue working instead of seeking employment elsewhere.
Additionally, Medicaid has increased workforce participation rates by as much as 9% for low income Montanans, removing a key barrier to employment and empowering our communities.
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Over the last two years we’ve engaged new labor activists in each of our communities. Together, we’ve grown our Labor Movement. Together, we’re fighting for a brighter future.
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Thanks to all of you for showing up and having your voices heard this legislative session. Thank you all for the important work you do representing workers and bargaining new contracts. Together, we will continue to build Montana and fight for a fair and prosperous future.