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 changes.

Sea-3 has not been consistently profitable in recent years due to changes in the propane marketplace. Previously, the Union had participated in concessionary bargaining in order to help the Company get back on its feet.

A proposed expansion of the Newington rail facility that could expand the work at Sea-3 has encountered some opposition in the surrounding communities. A final decision is not expected until sometime next year.

IBEW 1837 Business Manager Dick Rogers and Assistant Business Manager Tom Ryan praised the work of their fellow negotiating team members: Chief Steward Steve Paine and Steward Al Newton.

“They did a great job and were considerate of the Company’s economic condition, as was the rest of our membership at Sea-3,” Ryan said. “They are proud of the work that they do and are hopeful that the Company will prosper in the future.”