US EditionHelena Teacher to Run State's Largest Union
More than 300 delegates chose Helena teacher and lawmaker Melissa Romano to lead the 18,000-member union after Amanda Curtis declined another term.
- Over the weekend in Helena, the Montana Federation of Public Employees elected state Representative Melissa Romano as its next president. Romano, a Helena teacher and legislator, succeeds Amanda Curtis.
- Outgoing president Amanda Curtis will step down on June 15 to return to teaching in her hometown of Butte. Curtis led the union since 2020, planning to remain active as a mentor.
- The Montana Federation of Public Employees represents about 18,000 members across Montana, including public school teachers, Montana Highway Patrol troopers, and various state agency employees.
- State law will bar Romano from directly lobbying during the 2027 legislative session, though she emphasized focusing on member engagement and leveraging their empowered membership.
- Republicans criticized the union's annual conference for presentations on topics including LGBTQ issues, prompting legislative leaders to call for restrictions on professional development credits.
10 Articles
10 Articles
ABC FOX Montana
State Rep. Romano elected as president of MFPE, state’s largest union
The Montana Federation of Public Employees, the state’s largest labor union comprising teachers, school employees, law enforcement, and city, county, and state employees, elected new leadership at its annual conference over the weekend. Current state Rep. Melissa Romano, a Helena…
The Billings Gazette
Montana StandardHelena Democrat and public school teacher elected to run Montana’s largest union, MFPE
After two terms in the Legislature, Rep. Melissa Romano will not seek re-election and instead will serve as president of the influential union representing school teachers and other public employees.
Helena teacher, legislator to be next leader of Montana public employees union
Montanas largest union has selected its next president: Melissa Romano, a teacher and state lawmaker from Helena.The Montana Federation of Public Employees represents about 18,000 members across the state, from public school teachers to Montana Highway Patrol troopers to a variety of state agency employees. This weekend, more than 300 delegates gathered at their annual conference in Helena, where they selected their next slate of leaders.Our uni…
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