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On this episode of Blue Collar News, Jason Small sits down with the superintendent of Hellgate Elementary School District to discuss the district’s childcare options for teachers and staff and what this kind of investment means for working families.

With access to reliable childcare remaining a major challenge for families across Montana, this conversation explores how Hellgate developed its program, how it supports educators and school employees, and the role schools and communities can play in addressing the childcare challenge.

From supporting working parents to strengthening the workforce and building stronger communities, this episode looks at how solutions like these can make a real difference for Montana’s working families—and whether Hellgate’s approach could serve as a model for other school districts across the state.

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What do the proposed charter changes mean for Butte-Silver Bow firefighters and the future of fire services in the community?

On Blue Collar News, we’re taking a closer look at the charter ballot questions, the proposed changes to fire department governance, and what voters need to understand before casting their ballots.

From the future of career and volunteer firefighters to how fire services will be organized under Butte-Silver Bow County, these decisions could shape how the community approaches fire protection for years to come.

🗳️ Know the questions. Understand the options. Make your voice heard.

Please visit the Butte-Silver Bow IAFF 96 Facebook or Website for addional ballot information

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAFF96Butte

Check out Blue Collar News and stay informed about the issues affecting Montana’s working families and the communities they call home.

#BlueCollarNews #ButteSilverBow #MontanaAFL-CIO #Firefighters #PublicSafety #Montana

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What do working people actually want from politics—and who is really representing them?

On this episode of Blue Collar News, Montana AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Jason Small sits down with longtime labor educator, author, political economist, and Labor Institute co-founder Les Leopold for a wide-ranging conversation about working-class America, organized labor, economic inequality, and political power.

Leopold draws on decades of labor organizing, economic research, and worker education to examine what new survey data reveals about working-class voters, why he believes traditional political labels no longer tell the whole story, and how corporate power and wealthy donors influence American politics.

Jason and Leopold also discuss the history and lessons of the Labor Party movement of the 1980s until now, the possibility of building an independent working-class political organization, the role of unions in creating political power, and the challenges of the so-called “spoiler” problem. They explore whether existing political parties can adequately represent working people and what a new independent workers' movement could look like.

From billionaires and inequality to unions and political representation, this episode asks a fundamental question: What would it take for working people to build lasting political power of their own?

About Les Leopold:
Les Leopold is the co-founder and executive director of The Labor Institute, a nonprofit focused on worker education, union activism, and economic and environmental reform. He is the author of Runaway Inequality, How to Make a Million Dollars an Hour, Wall Street's War on Workers, The Man Who Hated Work and Loved Labor, and The Billionaires Have Two Parties, We Need a Party of Our Own. His work combines labor history, political-economic analysis, and decades of organizing experience to examine wealth, corporate power, inequality, and the future of working-class political movements.

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On this episode of Blue Collar News, we sit down with Judge Amy Eddy, who is running for the Montana Supreme Court.

Judge Eddy talks about her background, her legal career, and the experiences that led her to seek a seat on Montana’s highest court. We discuss her work as a judge, what she believes the role of a Supreme Court justice requires, and the importance of judicial independence and the Montana Constitution.

We also talk about the issues she’s hearing from people across Montana, the role the Supreme Court plays in the lives of working families, and what she believes Montanans should know about the state’s judicial system.

What does it take to serve on Montana’s Supreme Court? What does Judge Eddy believe she would bring to the court? And what has she learned from her years in the legal profession?

Tune in for a conversation with Judge Amy Eddy about her background, her judicial experience, Montana’s legal system, and her campaign for the Montana Supreme Court.

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On this episode of Blue Collar News, we sit down with Michael Eisenhauer, an Independent candidate running for Congress in Montana, to get to know the person behind the campaign and why he decided to step into politics for the first time.

Eisenhauer talks about his background, his career in medicine and military service, and what ultimately led him to believe it was time to run for office. We discuss what he believes is happening in Washington, the current political climate, and why he chose to run as an Independent rather than align himself with one of the two major parties.

We also talk about the significant endorsements his campaign has received, what those endorsements mean to him, and what he believes they say about the coalition he's building. Eisenhauer shares what he's hearing from Montanans on the campaign trail, the issues he believes deserve the most attention, and his vision for representing Montana in Congress.

If elected, what's his plan when he gets to Washington? And if voters don't send him there, what's next?

Tune in for a conversation about Michael Eisenhauer's background, his decision to run, the issues facing Montana, and what he hopes to bring to Congress.

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This episode of Blue Collar News takes us directly to the picket line with UFCW Local 1889 workers at Harvest Foods in Great Falls, where the fight for working people is happening right in the community.

Independent U.S. Senate candidate Seth Bodnar stopped by the picket line to show his support for the workers and sat down with Montana AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Jason Small for a conversation about the campaign trail, what he’s hearing from Montanans, and what he hopes to accomplish if elected to the U.S. Senate. Bodnar is running as an Independent candidate in Montana’s 2026 U.S. Senate race.

Recorded live from the picket line, this conversation connects Montana’s labor movement with the ongoing Senate campaign and gives listeners an opportunity to hear directly from Bodnar about his priorities, working families, and what he would take with him to Washington.

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On this episode of Blue Collar News, we sit down with Artie Blanco of the AFL-CIO during her visit to Montana for a conversation about the future of the labor movement and the power of working people coming together.

From Montana’s skilled trades, healthcare workers, construction workers, energy workers, and transportation workers to the growing national movement to organize for better wages and working conditions, Artie shares her perspective on what she is hearing from workers across the country.

We also dive into some of the biggest issues facing working families today—including the rising cost of living, the future of unions, politics and the importance of working people having a seat at the table, and how AI, automation, data centers, and new technology could shape the future of work.

What does solidarity mean to Artie and today's labor movement? Why are more workers looking to organize? And what gives her hope for the future?

Join us for a conversation about Montana workers, the national labor movement, and why the voices of working people matter now more than ever.

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Sam Forstag stopped by the Montana AFL-CIO office for a conversation about life on the campaign trail, what he’s hearing from working people across Montana, and why this race matters.

Sam also talks about what he hopes to accomplish if—or when—he makes it to Washington, D.C., including his priorities for working families, good-paying jobs, and building an economy that works for Montana.

It’s a candid conversation about the campaign, the challenges ahead, and what Sam believes Montana needs from its next voice in Congress.

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What does Montana's air quality look like today, and how does the state balance environmental protection with economic growth?

On this episode of Blue Collar News, Montana AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Jason Small sits down with the Director of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for an in-depth conversation about the issues shaping Montana's future. They discuss recent air quality trends across the state, how wildfire smoke and other factors impact communities and workers, and what the DEQ is doing to monitor and protect the air Montanans breathe.

The conversation also explores the permitting process for major projects—from energy infrastructure to data centers and other large-scale developments—and how the DEQ evaluates these projects while balancing environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and public input.

Whether you're a union member, contractor, employer, policymaker, or simply interested in the future of Montana, this episode offers an inside look at the decisions that affect jobs, communities, and the state's natural resources.

Listen now for a thoughtful discussion on responsible growth, environmental accountability, and what lies ahead for Montana's workforce.

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We're proud to launch Natives in Labor, a special three-part series exploring the opportunities, challenges, and future of the skilled trades in Montana's tribal communities.

In this first episode, we take a closer look at prevailing wage—what it is, why it matters, and how it impacts workers, public projects, and tribal economies. Our guests break down common misconceptions, explain how prevailing wage helps create family-supporting careers, and discuss the role it plays in ensuring quality craftsmanship while investing in local communities.

Whether you're a union member, contractor, tribal leader, policymaker, or simply interested in the future of Montana's workforce, this conversation offers valuable insight into one of the most important issues affecting construction and economic development across Indian Country.

Join us as we begin this important conversation on building stronger communities, expanding opportunities, and creating pathways to good-paying union careers for Native workers.

Blue Collar News—where the voices of working people shape the future of Montana.

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