New 6-Year Contract for IBEW Members at UES

June 5, 2012 - Members of IBEW Local 1837 have ratified a new contract with Unitil Energy Systems, Inc. (UES) in New Hampshire. The six-year agreement includes a 3% wage increase each year and wage adjustments in the first and second years for the majority of job classifications.

“I appreciate all of the hard work our negotiating team put into preparing for bargaining and seeing the process through to its conclusion,” IBEW 1837 Assistant Business Manager Tom Ryan said.

The contract will phase in an increase in the cost-sharing for health insurance over the term of the agreement from the current 15% to 20% in the final year of the pact. New employees will be enrolled in a 401(k) plan with the Company contributing 4% and matching another 6% of employee contributions. Incumbent employees have the option of remaining in the current defined benefit pension plan or may switch to the 401(k) retirement plan on December 31, 2012. Negotiators also reached agreement on new storm rates in and out of town.

In addition to Tom Ryan, the Union Negotiating Team at Unitil includes Chief Stewards Robert McNeff and Don Palmer, Scott MacDougall, Alan Bowering, Michael Yurek, Chad Streeter, IBEW 1837 Business Manager Dick Rogers, and Staff Secretary Susan Ekola.

There are about 35 members of IBEW Local 1837 who work at two New Hampshire locations of UES: “Capital” in Concord and “Seacoast” in Kensington. Unitil is a public utility holding company with electric utility distribution operations in these New Hampshire communities as well as North Central Massachusetts.

IBEW Members who work for UES in New Hampshire are employed as Lineworkers, Meter Mechanics, Substation Mechanics and some as Support Personnel. Our members help provide electricity to 71,100 customers in the Merrimack River Valley and Seacoast regions of New Hampshire.