Member Profiles

Hello, my name is Colette Campbell and I have continued to be re-elected and serve you as President to MFPE’s MSU Bozeman local of the Federation of Classified University Staff, affectionately known as FOCUS #8521 since October of 2015.

My children are grown and relocated to opposite coasts. I love to garden, read, write, gaze at the stars or into a bonfire, camp, tour and vacation, explore Montana, and take advantage of hot springs wherever I find them. I have an amazing retired PIC (partner in crime) at home who adds much needed balance to my life. I would be an all-union no play type of woman without my gentle giant Karl.

I was an early childhood educator for 12 years for HRDC Head Start here in the Gallatin Valley. I quit my job and came back to school for a film degree and I’m still here! 😊 I work in the Visual Communications Building as an Assistant Technology Coordinator for the School of Film and Photography, and I LOVE my school.

My #1 ultimate goal is for members to break the stranglehold on our meager wages. Contrary to popular belief, the union is not just a headquarters office in Helena that sends a field rep when a member needs help. The union is you and me, we are the rank and file. We do a lot more in our jobs than most anyone gives us credit (or dollars) for and the power to get a living wage lies with us when we put our hands in our pockets and withhold our services ALL TOGETHER. It doesn’t work if 25 of us do it, it requires ALL HANDS ON DECK. We are a way off from being organized enough to pull that off across 7 campuses, but it has been done before and CAN be done again. What makes that happen is the members getting involved, staying involved and bringing your coworkers with you! We are our own best advocates when we step up to the plate together.

The time IS NOW to organize to protect what we have in contract for our pensions, worker rights, safety, and benefits. WITH YOUR voice added to ours, We CAN fight to protect what we have built over the decades in pensions, worker safety, benefits, and working conditions. Add your voice to the 23,000 MFPE members across our state.

I am also your MFPE district 4 Vice Chair, I am your MFPE Director At Large on the MT AFL-CIO Board of Directors. Join the thousands of Montanans preparing to defend our freedom to work together for the benefit of all Montanans. You can reach my cell for any reason at 406.599.0751 or email me at only1tigress@gmail.com

My position is 100% volunteer. I spend countless hours working to bring working people together because I believe “The system” as we all know it is not panning out for us – the working people. We deserve better, and now we are in a fight to keep what little we DO have.

I look forward to seeing you at our next monthly meeting!