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MDT employees warned not to talk to media

Posted: Jan 31, 2012 9:49 PM by Marnee Banks (KXLH Helena)
Updated: Jan 31, 2012 10:14 PM


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HELENA- Montana's News Station was the first to report the that Teamsters Union, which is made up of 330 state snow plow and truck drivers, was considering going on strike. Reporter Marnee Banks has gathered more information about the story.

Montana's News Station has received an anonymous piece of mail from a group calling itself "Concerned Department of Transportation Employees."

Through this letter we discovered that just hours after our story broke, the director of the MT Department of Transportation, Tim Reardon, sent an email to his District Administrators.

In the letter, he wrote: "The purpose of this message is to advise you that if you or anyone on your staff is contacted by the press and asked to comment that you say nothing but refer the questions to the State Labor Negotiator Paula Stoll's Office at the Department of Administration. Do not discuss the matter beyond that referral should you be asked, which I hope does not happen."

MDT Public Information Officer Lori Ryan confirms that Reardon sent the email.

She says the State Labor Negotiator represents the Department in the collective bargaining process to ensure the continuity of the process and message.

The Governor's spokesman, Jayson O'Neil, says the Governor has not given directive to administrators to avoid talking to the press.

However, in the letter the anonymous employees lay out some of their concerns, and state, "We are not lazy people just looking for more money, we are skilled employees who work hard to make sure Montana Highways are safe for all."

The anonymous employees also point out they haven't received pay increases in several years. They end their letter by saying, "A raise is in order, problem solved."

The Teamsters Union is scheduled to meet with the State's Labor Negotiator on Friday, February 3rd.

We will update you as the story develops.

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