Pole-Setting Pilot Project Seeks to Recoup Work for Union Members at CMP
February 15, 2013 - Pole-setting work being performed by a non-union outside contractor may return to members of IBEW Local 1837 employed at Central Maine Power as the result of an ongoing pilot program spearheaded by the Union. A pair of two-person IBEW-represented crews are already getting the job done effectively and efficiently in what looks like a win-win proposition for both the Union and the Company.
"Nobody does a better job setting poles," said IBEW 1837 member Sam Webber on a recent frosty February morning in Maine's Somerset County, just south of Bangor. Brother Webber and his... Read More
IBEW 1837 Speaks Out at Maine Energy, Utility and Technology Committee Orientation Session
January 22, 2013 - IBEW 1837 Business Manager Dick Rogers and Assistant Business Manager Bill Dunn joined spokespeople and executives from Maine's electric utility and generation industry for a special orientation session of the Maine Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology at the Statehouse in Augusta. Representatives of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Maine Public Advocate'soffice and ISO New England also spoke or made presentations.
While industry representatives spoke about various initiatives and challenges they were facing,... Read More
IBEW 1837 Members at NextEra Ratify One-Year Contract Extension
December 21, 2012 -  All terms of the current NextEra collective bargaining agreement have been extended one year to February 28, 2014 as a result of today's ratification vote by IBEW 1837 members employed by the Company. In addition, effective February 25, 2013, all employees will receive a 4% general wage increase while employees in the Production Specialist and Senior Production Tech A classifications will receive an additional 1.5% equity pay increase.
Approximately 90 members of IBEW 1837 work for NextEra Energy (formerly FPL-Maine) generating electricity. They maintain and operate... Read More
IBEW 1837 Effort Helps Electric System Operators at Unitil to Receive Back Pay
December 6, 2012 - Recently organized workers at Unitil's Centralized Electric Dispatch (CED) in Portsmouth will be receiving back pay as the result of unfair labor practice charges filed by IBEW Local 1837, and a settlement agreement between the National Labor Relations Board, Unitil Service Corporation and  the Union.
In August, the Company granted wage increases and new payment for overtime to employees at Unitil CED who were not involved in an organizing campaign concerning five Electric System Operators, who sought representation by the IBEW. At that time, IBEW Local 1837 believed... Read More
Maine Public Service Customer Service Representatives Decide to Join Union
November 21, 2012 - Following up on a series of organizing victories in New Hampshire and Maine, IBEW 1837's membership development efforts have also paid off in Presque Isle. A majority of the Customer Service Representatives at Maine Public Service (MPS) have signed union authorization cards indicating that they want IBEW Local 1837 to represent them for the purpose of collective bargaining.
To their credit, the Company agreed to accept the majority decision of their employees after verifying the authenticity of the authorization cards by a neutral third party, in this case, a faith leader... Read More
Bangor Hydro System Operators Ratify First Contract
November 21, 2012 - System Operators at Bangor Hydro Electric (BHE) have ratified their first contract agreement with the Company. These highly-skilled workers are often referred to as “Dispatchers.”
In late March, in an election administered by the National Labor Relations Board in Bangor, the System Operators at BHE voted 8 – 0 to be represented by IBEW Local 1837 for collective bargaining. During the union organizing campaign, initiated by the System Operators themselves,  the workers raised issues about fairness and unpaid overtime, but the desire to have the ability to negotiate... Read More
CMP and IBEW 1837 Reach New AMI Agreement
November 2, 2012 - IBEW Local 1837 and Central Maine Power Company have signed a settlement agreement that essentially resolves all remaining issues resulting from the 2010 AMI Transition Agreement and a subsequent arbitration decision in favor of the union. Automated Metering Infrastructure (or "AMI") is the system that supports the so-called "Smart Meters" which can be read remotely and are now being used by the majority of CMP's customers.
Under the new agreement, no member of IBEW 1837 will be subjected to an involuntary layoff, and all members on the recall and to-be-released lists who... Read More
Maggie Hassan Gets Rare IBEW 1837 Endorsement for NH Gov. in Final Weeks of Campaign
October 24, 2012 - The last two years have seen exhausting battles in Concord and Augusta against so-called “Right to Work” bills and other anti-worker initiatives. It is only because of the sustained, excellent work of labor activists and allies in both states that we were able to minimize the damage against working people and their unions.
With New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch’s decision not to seek another two-year term, November’s election looms especially large.  Republican candidate Ovide Lamontagne, has proudly proclaimed that he will be like Wisconsin’s “Scott Walker on steroids.”... Read More
IBEW 1837 Members Ratify Contract at NH Electric Co-op and Avoid Strike
October 5, 2012 - IBEW Local 1837 members at the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative have ratified a new 5 1/2- year contract agreement that provides wage increases and preserves a defined benefit pension plan for current and new employees. The ratification vote prevented a looming strike at the utility that serves some 83,000 homes and business across 115 towns and cities.
The vote at NHEC's Plymouth headquarters followed a week's contract extension requested by a federal mediator. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #1837 represents approximately 85 employees at the company... Read More
IBEW 1837 Members May Apply for Union Plus Scholarships
September 24, 2012 - Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $3.4 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education. Over 2,200 families have benefited from their commitment to higher education. The Union Plus Scholarship Program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation.
The 2013 Scholarship application is now available.
Application Deadline: A complete application must be received on or before 12:00 p.m.(Eastern Time) on Thursday, January 31, 2013. Applications received after this deadline will not... Read More