Though MFPE is a new union, we trace our roots back to 1882, when frontier educators first organized to improve Montana public schools. Their efforts became the Montana Education Association, which later merged with the Montana Federation of Teachers in 2000, forming MEA-MFT. The Montana Public Employees Association was started in 1945.
MFPE has a proud record of achievements for Montana's people, working families, public schools and services, and the middle class.
Though MFPE is a new union, we trace our roots back to 1882, when frontier educators first organized to improve Montana public schools.
August 1, 1882
Seven years before statehood, teachers create Territorial Teachers’ Association, later to call itself Montana Teachers’ Association, and then Montana State Teachers’ Association (MSTA).
1883
Congress passes the Pendleton Act professionalizing public employment at the federal level.
1913
Montana state legislature grants tenure after election of a teacher for a second consecutive year.
1918
Professors at Montana State University (now University of Montana) establish first but short-lived American Federation of Teachers local in Montana, Local 119.
1920
Missoula elementary teachers organize Missoula Elementary Grade Teachers Club/AFT Local 169.
1922 – 26
MSTA adopts new constitution and new name: Montana Education Association (MEA); locates permanent state office in Helena; selects first executive secretary; and incorporates.
1934
Butte teachers organize first k-12 AFT local affiliate in Montana, Butte Teachers Union (BTU).
1935
Congress passes the National Labor Relations Act.
BTU negotiates first public employee labor agreement in America 40 years before the Montana collective bargaining act.
1937
Legislature creates mandatory teachers defined benefit retirement system (TRS). (MEA and BTU proposal)
1945
MEA affiliates with National Education Association (NEA) and adopts unified dues.
Montana Public Employees Association (MPEA) created to establish retirement system for public employees.
1947
Legislature reduces vesting in the public employees’ retirement system (PERS) from 20 to 10 years.
1955
Legislature raises PERS cash refund from 90 to 100%.
1956
Montana Federation of Labor and Montana State Industrial Union Council merge into the Montana AFL-CIO.
Tom Schneider elected to MPEA board.
1957
MPEA secures 5-day workweek for public employees
1962
President John F. Kennedy issues Executive Order #10988 allowing federal civilian employees to organize and collectively bargain.
1968
MPEA becomes member of AGE and WAGE (Assembly of Government Employees and Western Assembly of Government Employees).
1971
Legislature adopts state employee sick leave provision of 1 day/month and reimbursement of 25% upon retirement or termination.
Legislature orders unemployment benefits be made available to qualified public employees.
Tom Schneider becomes first full-time employee of MPEA and first executive director.
1972
Independent AFT local affiliates in Anaconda, Butte, and University of Montana establish Montana Federation of Teachers (MFT).
MEA members Chet Blaylock, Noel Furlong and Bob Woodsmansy and MFT member Dan Harrington serve as delegates to the Montana Constitutional Convention.
Jim McGarvey begins 28-year career as MFT president and executive director.
1973
Legislature adopts public employee collective bargaining act, creates sheriffs’ retirement system, and provides unemployment insurance for all public employees.
Pursuant to the new Montana Collective Bargaining Act, MPEA unionizes.
Legislature establishes board of personnel appeals (BOPA) to administer collective bargaining act for public employees.
1974
Legislature extends Montana collective bargaining act to public school employees. MEA and MFT unionize.
Legislature authorizes paid leave for Jury Duty.
First MPEA strike – Butte/Silver Bow County employees chapter.
1975
Legislature reduces vesting period in PERS to 5 years, implement statewide classification and pay plan that provides for retroactive pay.
Great Falls Education Association (GFEA) and Billings Education Association (BEA) strike. First public-school strikes in MEA-MFT history.
1978
MFT member Pat Williams elected to first term in the U.S. Congress.
1979
MPEA negotiates an average state employee pay increase of 15%, an increase in state health insurance contribution, and kills “no strike” legislation.
1980
John Board elected first full-time released MEA president.
Harlem Education Association strikes.
1981
Legislature provides “free” creditable TRS service for Vietnam era veterans (MEA bill).
MEA delegate assembly authorizes MEA to organize k-12 classified school employees.
Missoula County High School Education Association strikes.
1983
Legislature authorizes 25-year retirement in TRS without penalty (MEA bill).
1984
Eric Feaver elected MEA president.
Montana supreme court (Massey) rules school districts may not layoff tenured teachers while retaining similarly situated and licensed nontenured teachers (MEA plaintiff).
Montana supreme court (Savage) affirms that k-12 bargaining units may bargain and enforce job protections for nontenured teachers (MEA plaintiff).
1985
Montana supreme court (Forsyth) rules steps and lanes in school district contracts remain in effect even if negotiations for a successor agreement continue indefinitely (MEA plaintiff).
Pine Hills teachers stage one-day walkout.
1986
Voters reject CI-27 – proposed constitutional amendment to abolish all property taxes (MEA primary opponent) but adopt I-105 freezing property taxes at 1986 levels.
1987
Legislature creates certification, standards, and practices advisory council (CSPAC) (MEA bill).
MEA named plaintiff in school funding equity lawsuit, Helena v. State of Montana.
MEA, MTSBA, and SAM create Montana Unified Schools Trust (MUST).
1988
Glasgow Education Association strikes.
MFT member Nancy Keenan elected superintendent of public instruction.
1989
Legislature mandates schools close for two pupil instruction related (PIR) days every year and dictates that teachers must be paid those two days. (MEA bill).
GFEA strikes a 2d time.
Legislature repeals corporal punishment in Montana public schools. (MEA and MFT bill)
1990
MPEA members vote to retain independence from national union affiliation and create Morey/Bukvich Award in memory of a state and board member to honor exceptional MPEA members.
1991
“United in Common Cause” state employee unions (MPEA, MFT, and AFSCME) strike.
Legislature mandates school employee preference for all available positions in event of school district consolidation
(MEA and MFT bill).
Laurel Unified Education Association strikes.
1992
MFT and MPEA launch prebudget, state employee pay plan negotiations.
MFT blocks affiliation of MPEA with SEIU and AFSCME
1993
MPEA and MFT sign NO RAID agreement.
Legislature mandates binding arbitration of public school employee grievances pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement (MEA bill).
MPEA, MFT, and AFSCME agree to prebudget negotiations with governor’s office.
1994
Voters adopt CI-25 – pension security act - now Article 8, Section 15 – Montana Constitution (MEA bill).
Missoula elementary and high school district classified MEA and MFT affiliates merge into Merged Missoula Classified Employees’ Organization – the first MEA-MFT merged affiliate in Montana.
1995
Governor Marc Racicot vetoes MTSBA sponsored bill empowering school districts to unilaterally abrogate contractual steps and lanes (MEA veto request).
Prebudget negotiations produces new market based pay system with an average base pay increase of 6%.
MEA-MFT Educators’ Conference features NEA President Keith Geiger and AFT President Al Shanker on the same stage at the same time. Unprecedented event never replicated.
1996
MEA and MFT establish Montana Professional Teaching Foundation (MPTF).
- Teacher of the Year (1996)
- Montana Educator Forum (1996)
- National Board Certification (1997)
- Karen Cox Memorial Grants (2006)
- Presidential Science and Math Awards (2007)
- Jim McGarvey Program and Scholarships (2008)
- Professional Leadership Scholarship (2016)
Lame Deer Education Association strikes.
MEA member Chet Blaylock Democratic Party candidate for governor
Voters reject CI-66 and 67 – proposed constitutional amendments to require voter approval of tax increases and state spending (MEA and MFT leading opponents).
Voters defeat C 30 – proposed constitutional amendment to abolish board of regents (MEA and MFT leading opponents).
1997
Legislature amends teacher tenure statutes to mandate binding arbitration of disputed tenured teacher terminations (MEA bill).
Legislature creates guaranteed annual benefit adjustment in the Public Employees’ Retirement System - PERS GABA (MEA, MFT, MPEA bill).
Federal court rules voter approved I-125 in 1996 and subsequent legislation in 1997 prohibiting corporate and union expenditures on ballot issues unconstitutional. (MEA plaintiff).
1998
Montana supreme court voids voter approved CI-75 – proposed constitutional amendment to require a vote of the people on any new tax or fee (MEA plaintiff).
1999
Legislature creates guaranteed annual benefit adjustment in the Teachers Retirement System - TRS GABA (MEA bill).
Board of public education adopts school accreditation standard – 10.57.604 - authorizing charter schools operating under the authority of local school districts, employing licensed and endorsed teachers, providing open student enrollment, and permitting collective bargaining (MEA proposal).
MSU Bozeman awards President Eric Feaver an Honorary Doctorate of Education for MEA’s advocacy of and commitment to quality public education and professional classroom instruction.
MEA-MFT affiliates with AFL-CIO
Eric Feaver elected first MEA-MFT president; Jim McGarvey elected first vice president; and Marilyn Ryan elected first secretary-treasurer.
MEA-MFT merger unites MPEA and MEA-MFT in the Montana Department of Revenue
Member Linda McCulloch elected superintendent of public instruction.
Member Bob Brown elected secretary of state.
2001
Huge MEA-MFT sponsored Capitol rally for public education.
MEA-MFT sponsors “Stand Up for Education” rallies in school communities across the state.
Legislature adopts state funded stipend for national board certified teachers (MEA-MFT bill).
Legislature increases GABA for public employees (not teachers) to 3% after one year of retirement.
2002
BEA strikes a 2d time.
MEA-MFT launches two years of “Stand Up for Education” rallies in school communities across the state.
MPEA creates Thomas E. Schneider Award to honor longest active MPEA member in the region hosting the annual meeting.
MEA-MFT develops and delivers PASS or Paraprofessionals Achieving Standards Successfully to assist paraprofessionals meet NCLB requirements.
2003
Legislature authorizes correctional officers to join Game Wardens’ Retirement System (MEA-MFT bill).
MEA-MFT named plaintiff in school funding adequacy lawsuit, Columbia Falls v. State of Montana.
MEA-MFT and Office of Public Instruction collaborate on first mentorship institute.
MEA-MFT launches “Work that Matters” program to highlight contributions of Montana’s public employees.
2003-05
Prebudget negotiations and legislature secure two consecutive biennial state employee pay plan increases.
2004
Member Bob Brown Republican Party candidate for governor.
Jim McGarvey elected Montana AFL-CIO executive secretary.
Montana supreme court (Snetzinger) rules under Montana’s constitution, same sex domestic partners enjoy equality in employer provided benefits. (MEA-MFT amicus).
2005
Legislature adopts quality educator payment (MEA-MFT bill).
Legislator adopts state government privatization process (MEA-MFT bill).
2005-07
Legislature reduces TRS and PERS unfunded liabilities and creates an ongoing infusion of state funding of TRS.
2006
Montana supreme court (Roberts) affirms a school district must bargain terms and conditions of employment – including extra-contractual incentives or bonuses (MEA-MFT plaintiff).
Voters approve I-151 to create a Montana minimum wage with built-in inflation factor (MEA-MFT prime mover).
Montana supreme court invalidates CI-97 – proposed constitutional amendment to cap state expenditures (also CI-98 – judicial recall and I-154 – eminent domain) (MEA-MFT plaintiff).
Tom Schneider retires from executive director position at MPEA.
2007
Legislature establishes state funded full-time kindergarten (MEA-MFT bill).
Legislature increases state funding of university faculty optional retirement plan (MEA-MFT bill).
Legislature creates education loan repayment program for teachers taking high demand/low supply positions (MEA-MFT bill).
Legislature protects assets of school district self-funded health care plans for the purposes for which they were intended (MEA-MFT bill).
Montana Trial Lawyers Association awards President Eric Feaver 2007 Citizens Award for MEA-MFT’s successful opposition to CI-97, CI-98, and I-154.
2008
Montana supreme court (Bonner) affirms right of bargaining units to demand to bargain impacts of management rights decisions (MEA-MFT plaintiff).
MEA-MFT and Montana Nurses Association (MNA) adopt joint agreement to work with each other in common defense, organizing, membership growth, professional development, leadership training, and lobbying.
Four members run for Democratic Party primary nomination for superintendent of public instruction; one member candidate runs for attorney general nomination; another runs for secretary of state.
Member Denise Juneau elected superintendent of public instruction.
Member Linda McCulloch elected secretary of state.
24 members run in legislative primaries; 19 members run in general election; 17 members elected to state legislature.
Board of public education adopts school accreditation standard – 10.55.907 – requiring distance learning teachers be licensed and endorsed (MEA-MFT proposal).
2009
In order to save state employee jobs, MPEA, MEA-MFT, and AFSCME prebudget negotiate no base pay increases for the 2011 biennium.
Legislature creates state funded digital academy (MEA-MFT bill).
Legislature prohibits vacancy savings in 24/7 institutions (MEA-MFT bill).
MEA-MFT organizes faculty at MSU/Bozeman and now represents faculty at every public higher education institution in Montana.
Board of public education adopts school accreditation standard - 10.57.437 – Class 8 teacher license enabling college and university faculty to provide dual credit to high school students (MEA-MFT proposal).
2010
NEA RA adopts ‘Gateway’ amendment to NEA constitution recognizing all MEA-MFT members as NEA members (AFT recognized all MEA-MFT members from the time of merger).
State and federal rules qualify state and university employee families for Healthy Montana Kids (MEA-MFT proposal).
2011
MEA-MFT sponsors “No Fooling with our Future” rally at the Capitol.
Members Jill Cohenour and Dani Tenneson first state employees to serve as delegates to NEA representative assembly.
Governor Brian Schweitzer vetoes bill to terminate Teachers’ Retirement System defined benefit plan (MEA-MFT veto request)
Governor Schweitzer orders one-year freeze in state employee health insurance costs (MEA-MFT/MPEA/AFSCME request).
Legislature fails to adopt a prebudget negotiated pay increase for the 2013 biennium.
MEA-MFT, MPEA, AFSCME file unfair labor practice against the state of Montana and demand to bargain in a two-pronged attempt to secure base pay increases for state employees.
MEA-MFT, MPEA, AFSCME, AFL-CIO file constitutional challenge against LR 123 - a legislative referendum meant to cap state expenditures.
Associated Faculty Montana State University (AFMSU) ratify historic bargained agreements for tenured and adjunct faculty.
2012
Board of Personnel Appeals affirms MEA-MFT ULP against the Department of Corrections extending Forsyth
protections to include already bargained state employee pay progressions.
Montana Supreme Court rules LR 123 - legislative referendum to prioritize tax refunds over state funding of public programs and services - unconstitutional and off the November 2012 ballot (MEA-MFT plaintiff).
Jim McGarvey - MFT president and executive director, MEA-MFT vice president, AFL-CIO president and executive secretary – dies.
Member Denise Juneau reelected superintendent of public instruction
Member Linda McCulloch reelected secretary of state.
14 members elected or reelected to state legislature.
MEA-MFT organizes first bargaining unit of graduate employees at MSU/Bozeman, Graduate Employees Organization.
2013
MEA-MFT, MTSBA, SAM, MREA, and MQEC create Montana Public Education Center (MT-PEC) - strongest public education coalition in memory leading to historic school funding bill.
MEA-MFT and MT-PEC lobbying kills six public school privatization bills - three pay voucher bills, two charter school bills, and one tax credit bill.
Governor Steve Bullock vetoes tax credit for student scholarships bill. (MEA-MFT veto request).
MEA-MFT, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, and Firefighters organize Montana's Promise, a coalition of unions, retirement system bureaucrats, and legislators that successfully lobbies bills through the legislature to amortize and save Montana's largest public employee retirement pension plans - TRS and PERS.
After 4-year freeze in base pay, MEA-MFT, AFSCME, and MPEA lobby through the legislature and bargain with the governor the largest increase in state employee pay in 20 years! 3 & 5% base pay increases over the 2015 biennium.
MEA-MFT creates a Hall of Fame and names Pat Williams, John Board, and Jim McGarvey (posthumously) as first inductees.
MEA-MFT secures an AFT Innovation Grant to create the Montana Digital Professional Network that later evolves into the Montana Teacher Learning Hub.
MEA-MFT files lawsuits to preserve guaranteed annual benefit adjustments (GABAs) in PERS and TRS unconstitutionally abridged by the 2013 legislature.
MEA-MFT joins "Free and Fair" to contest legislative referenda 126 and 127 that eliminate election day registration and primary election of party nominees for November general elections.
MEA-MFT files petitions challenging legal sufficiency of LR 126 (eliminating election-day registration) and LR 127 (open primary & top two candidates move onto the general).
2014
Governor Steve Bullock appoints Angela McLean lieutenant governor - first teacher, first member to serve in that position.
20 members run for election or re-election to state legislature.
Montana Supreme Court concurs with MEA-MFT's legal challenge of LR 127 and tosses it from the ballot.
Eric Feaver re-elected to his 16th term as MEA and MEA-MFT president; Melanie Charlson elected vice president; Rich Aarstad re-elected secretary-treasurer; and Amanda Curtis elected NEA director.
MEA-MFT files legal challenge to Charter Corporation proposed I-172 asserting the ballot statement is argumentative, 172 is special legislation benefiting only one entity, and if adopted would require an appropriation.
Montana State AFL-CIO awards MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver Lifetime Achievement Award . . . and Montana Nurses Association names Feaver its 2014 “Friend of Nursing.”
Montana voters reject LR 126 to end election-day registration. (MEA-MFT leading opponent)
In concert with Montana Trial Lawyers, MEA-MFT elects Mike Wheat to Montana Supreme Court beating back a serious dark money funded stealth candidate.
10 members elected or reelected to state legislature.
Member Amanda Curtis nominated for U.S. Senate in special nominating Democratic Party convention.
Working in concert with MEA-MFT, MPEA directly affiliates with the Montana State AFL-CIO.
2015
MEA-MFT legislative lobbying produces early adoption of k-12 school funding and belated adoption of state employee pay plan.
Member Melissa Romano announces candidacy for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
After losing three-times in district court, State of Montana surrenders to MEA-MFT’s litigation protecting guaranteed annual benefit adjustments for all persons enrolled in PERS and TRS on or before July 1, 2013.
Member Denise Juneau announces candidacy for U.S. Congress.
MEA-MFT field consultant Tammy Harris elected president of the Montana AFL-CIO.
MPEA executive director Quinton Nyman elected vice president of the Montana State AFL-CIO.
2016
MEA-MFT defeats I-181 crippling the state’s bonding capacity for special private interests outside the control of the state.
12 members elected or reelected to state legislature. Counting 2 hold-over Senators, 14 members serve in the 2017 legislature.
MEA-MFT human and financial resources re-elect Steve Bullock governor, elect Dirk Sandefur supreme court justice, and help re-elect Tim Fox, state attorney general.
MPEA and MEA-MFT adopt resolution to explore merger potential
2017
Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Bock unexpectedly passes away. Rich Aarstad elected to complete Kevin’s unexpired term.
Governor vetoes bills authorizing guns in schools and the state Capitol and a charter school bill. (MEA-MFT veto requests)
Delegates to annual meetings of MEA-MFT and MPEA direct the two unions to merge by mid-summer 2018.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen unilaterally seizes control of the Montana Teacher of the Year Program.
MEA-MFT member and state legislator Tom Woods announces candidacy for Congress.
2018
January 20 – at a one day joint assembly MPEA and MEA-MFT delegates vote to merge adopting constitution governing the Montana Federation of Public Employees.
April 6-7 – at the first annual MFPE conference delegates elect statewide officers and board of directors and adopt a new dues schedule and budget.
At 1st Annual MFPE Conference, Eric Feaver, Melanie Charlson, Bill Dwyer, Rich Aarstad, and Amanda Curtis elected first ever MFPE state officers.
U.S. Supreme Court in Janus v. AFSCME outlaws fair share non-member fee payments where negotiated in MFPE labor agreements.
Montana voters overwhelmingly support Montana University System 6-mill levy primarily promoted by MFPE.
Montana voters reelect MFPE friend U.S. Senator Jon Tester.
Montana voters reject tobacco product tax to fund and repeal sunset of Medicaid Expansion.
Nine members elected or reelected to the state legislature to join three holdover state senators for a total of twelve members serving in the 2019 session.