CSKT to test energy savings of four-day workweek

By VINCE DEVLIN of the Missoulian

PABLO - It will be a lot warmer in Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal offices Friday.

Also, considerably more empty than usual.

The tribes this week began a 10-hour-day, four-day workweek for most tribal programs in an effort to reduce energy costs.

The CSKT council authorized the switch for a 60-day trial period through Sept. 12, at which point the effects on tribal members and programs, and potential savings, will be reviewed.

“It's not brand new,” said CSKT spokesman Rob McDonald, noting that S&K Electronics, Mission Valley Power and the tribes' Department of Natural Resources had already made the switch - and Salish Kootenai College goes to a four-day workweek during the summer months.

“We'll see how our people feel about it after 60 days,” he went on. “But just in cooling savings, you're looking at a 20-percent reduction potentially.”

McDonald said approximately 10 large tribal buildings in Flathead Indian Reservation communities will now be closed on Fridays, eliminating cooling and maintenance needs.

Tribal programs that offer 24-7 service, such as law enforcement and fire control, will not be affected by the change, but most others, including CSKT's Tribal Health Service, will.

Those offices - including pharmacies - in St. Ignatius, Ronan and Polson, will be open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Emergency pharmacy needs - i.e., not for recurring prescriptions - will be available at Family Health Pharmacy in Ronan during off-hours.

Most other offices will follow a 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. schedule during the trial period.

“A lot of our (employees) do commute long distances, too,” McDonald said, “so this is one less day they'll have to pony up gas money to get to work.”

Utah has also gone to a mandatory four-day workweek for state employees in an effort to save on costs, McDonald said.