Election 2014: Gubernatorial Contests are Top Labor Concern
October 22, 2014 - Re-election campaigns for the Governors of New Hampshire and Maine have been getting plenty of attention from members of IBEW Local #1837 and other pro-worker groups. New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan has been a consistent union ally while Maine Governor Paul LePage has supported union-busting “Right to Work” legislation. Both are seeking their second terms on Tuesday, November 4.
In recent letters to our represented members, IBEW 1837 Business Manager Dick Rogers and President Ray Colello continued to stress that their top priority remains giving members the best... Read More
New 2-year Contract at Sea-3 Ratified
July 17, 2014 - IBEW 1837 members at Sea-3 have ratified a new, 2-year contract with an immediate 4 ½% wage increase. Sea-3 is a propane terminal facility in Newington, New Hampshire.
Union members agreed that Operators would assume extra duties that were previously performed by managerial staff and some represented members.  Those employees no longer work at Sea-3 and were not replaced by the Company. That portion of the agreement will terminate at the end of the contract term or if new employees are hired to fill those jobs.
The new collective bargaining agreement contains no other... Read More
IBEW 1837 Members Elect Union Leaders for 3-Year Terms
June 20, 2014 - Dick Rogers was re-elected as Business Manager/Financial Secretary and Ray Colello was re-elected as President of IBEW Local 1837 following a   mail-in secret ballot election. Ballots were counted today with Election Judge Cynthia Phinney helping to supervise the tally at our Union Local office in Manchester, Maine. She was aided in the count by Election Teller Bob McNeff.
Also re-elected to their posts were Vice President Bill Tarallo, Secretary Pamela Paquette and Treasurer Kerry Guptill. Re-elected to... Read More
IBEW Members at CMP Ratify New Contract
May 6, 2014 - Members of  IBEW 1837 in Central Maine Power Company's largest bargaining unit have ratified a new 3-year, 10-month contract agreement. Union members cast their ballots at various CMP service centers on Tuesday, May 6. A meeting of the membership was held in Gardiner on Sunday, May 4 to discuss the proposal and the Union Negotiating Team’s positive recommendation for ratification. While the Local’s policy is not to share the percentages of the results of the vote, the Negotiating Team was pleased that 92% of the membership turned out to cast their ballots.
The contract... Read More
Two Members of IBEW 104 Die in Boon Crane Collapse
April 12, 2014 - Two members of IBEW Local Union #104 have died in a boon crane collapse while working in Bourne, Massachusetts. The worksite was off the Scenic Highway near Cape Cod. One of the accident victims was identified in news reports as 34-year-old John Loughran.
Additional details may be found in a news story published  by Boston television station WCVB-TV 5. Please keep our union brothers and their families in your thoughts and prayers
CMP Contract Talks Set To Start
April 7, 2014 - Negotiators for IBEW Local Union #1837 and Central Maine Power are prepared to begin negotiations next week on a successor contract agreement for the large production bargaining unit. The current agreement runs through the end of this month.
Union members rejected the Company’s offer of a modified 3-year contract extension last week.
 The Union Negotiating Team and Company representatives will begin contract talks on Tuesday, April 15. Five sessions between the two sides had previously been scheduled.
 There are close to 600 members in this, the largest bargaining... Read More
Central Maine Power Modified Contract Extension Under Consideration
March 28, 2014 - Union and Company representatives have prepared a modified 3-year contract extension that will be presented next week to IBEW members in the large production bargaining unit at CMP.
IBEW members at CMP are receiving a summary of the agreement terms and relevant documents to consider prior to a ratification vote.
There are close to 600 members in this, the largest bargaining unit at CMP. Collectively, these union members design, build, repair and maintain the electric grid serving the largest customer base of any electric utility in Maine, and provide customer service... Read More
Granite Ridge Energy Members Ratify 3-Year Deal
Left to right: IBEW negotiators Joe Gilmore, Scott Kirby and Tom Ryan
March 26, 2014 - IBEW 1837 members at Granite Ridge Energy in Londonderry, New Hampshire have approved a new 3-year contract that maintains their current benefits package and increases their wages by more than 8½% over the term of the agreement.
“I’d like to thank our members Joe Gilmore and Scott Kirby for their efforts in helping us to come to this reasonable agreement,” said IBEW 1837 Assistant Business Manager Tom Ryan. “Our Business Manager Dick Rogers and I are grateful to them for their hard work as part of the Union... Read More
CMP Administrative and Technical Unit Members Ratify Agreement But Express Frustration
March 24, 2014 - IBEW 1837 members in the Central Maine Power Administrative and Technical bargaining unit have ratified a new 4-year contract agreement. This group of 42 workers had been working without a contract since July 1, 2013.
Although the contract was ratified, nearly all of the workers expressed disappointment and frustration in the final deal. Those feelings were echoed by union officials.
“By failing to include this one group of workers in the company-wide all-employee bonus, CMP has devalued these employees by sending them a clear message: You’re not worth it!” said IBEW 1837... Read More
CMP Fiber Microwave Techs Ratify Their First Union Contract
February 24, 2014 - Fiber Microwave Technicians at Central Maine Power have ratified their first union contract. These six workers are now part of the largest existing bargaining unit at CMP along with hundreds of other IBEW members. The Fiber Microwave Technicians voted to have union representation in a National Labor Relations Board election last May.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we’re better off,” said Phil Fessenden, one of the Fiber Microwave Techs. “It was an avenue to better our position at CMP and ensure a more productive future for our department.”
The Fiber Microwave Techs are... Read More