Members at Bangor’s WABI-TV Approve 18-month Contract as Changes Loom
IBEW 1837 members at CBS affiliate WABI-TV approved a new 18-month agreement with 2½% increases in January 2022 and in January 2023. Some members also received wage adjustments.
“I’m grateful to Assistant Business Manager Renee Gilman for her assistance during these negotiations as well as union member Jordan Verge from WABI-TV,” said IBEW 1837 Organizer and Business Representative Matt Beck.
The unusual length of the contract was to allow station owner Gray Television to determine how they wish to proceed with the creation of a new job classification called “Technical Media Producer” that... Read More
Pres Biden Celebrates the IBEW in Historic Convention Presidential Speech
President Joe Biden electrified the IBEW Convention in Chicago on May 11, drawing thunderous cheers for infrastructure projects that will employ IBEW members far into the future, championing unions like none of his predecessors, fighting to cut taxes for working families and make billionaires pay their fair share, among other historic progress and plans for a better, more just America.

"The only reason I’m standing here now as president of the United States is because the IBEW came on with me early,” Biden said as he arrived on stage at the 40th International... Read More
IBEW 1837 Members at Versant Power Approve 2-Year Contract
April 20, 2022 - IBEW Local Union #1837 members at the electric utility serving a large swath of northern and eastern Maine have approved a two-year contract extension offer with pay increases for all classifications and no change in their health insurance premiums or other benefits for the term of  the extension.
Effective June 1, 2022, all workers will receive at least a 2% wage adjustment followed by a 3% wage increase in January 2023 and another 3% increase in January 2024. First Class Lineworkers, Electricians and those in Customer Service Representatives will receive larger... Read More
Kitty Kilroy Appointed as IBEW 1837 Business Representative
March 4, 2022 - Kitty Kilroy has been appointed as a new Business Representative for IBEW Local #1837. Sister Kilroy will have many responsibilities including staffing our Dover, New Hampshire office, following the retirement of Sue Ekola, our secretary for the past 24 years.
“I’m proud to work for the union. I’ve always been honored to be asked to represent people and proud that people have faith in me,” Kilroy said. “I look forward to putting our members first and helping them fight the good fight.” 
In addition to staffing the Dover office, Sister Kilroy will be attending meetings... Read More
The Current - Recent Issues
Inside Summer 2022 issue of The Current:
Contracts Ratified for Versant Power, WGME-TV, WABI-TV, and Sea-3
Kitty Kilroy Appointed IBEW 1837 Business Representative and Sue Ekola Retires
Quick Notes and Announcements 
A Message from Dick Rogers
Friends, I’m excited to announce to everyone that as much as I love retirement, I’ve decided to get involved with something else I care deeply about: Central Maine Power, Versant Power (Bangor Hydro), their employees and the Maine ratepayers, not necessarily in that order.
While I will continue to consult for IBEW 1837, I’ve also accepted a part-time job with Maine Affordable Energy fighting the effort to seize CMP and Versant. Mainers need to hear the true story about the group “Our Power” and their government takeover effort and the simple fact that it is really Government Controlled Power... Read More
Members at WGME-TV Ratify New Contract
After Contentious Negotiations
December 9, 2021- Members of IBEW Local #1837 at WGME-TV 13 in Portland have approved a new 3-year contract agreement with substantial raises in 2022 for all members in all job classifications, ranging from 5.2% up to 49.9%. Most members will see a wage increase of at least 7% in 2022, followed by an additional 5% over the next two years. The contract vote took place on Wednesday, December 8, in a church basement near the Portland studios of the CBS affiliate.
IBEW 1837 represents more than 40 people who work behind the scenes at WGME-TV 13 as well as WPFO-TV 23... Read More
IBEW Biz Mgr Meets President Biden in Childhood Hometown

Scranton Local 81 Business Manager Mike McDermott met President Biden when he visited the city in October.

President Biden appeared at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on October 20 to promote his domestic agenda and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that will be created to rebuild the nation’s degraded infrastructure.
There to meet him backstage was Scranton Local 81 Business Manager Mike McDermott.
The industrial city in northeastern Pennsylvania known most recently as the setting of the fictional Dunder Mifflin in “The Office,” Biden grew up there. Known as “Scranton Joe,” Biden strongly identifies with the town and its working class values. He is that guy, McDermott said.
“He was... Read More
Boosting the Power of the Federal Workforce
In a welcome reversal from past administrations’ attempts to stifle the power of unions in the federal sector, the Biden administration is actively encouraging more worker participation in collective bargaining.
“We are proud as the Biden Harris administration in what we believe we will be, which is the most pro-union administration in the history of America," Vice President Kamala Harris said on Oct. 20 announcing the new guidelines. Among them are:

Including bargaining unit status and union affiliation in job announcements
Giving unions the opportunity to share information with new... Read More
Former Mine Workers' Official Appointed as OSHA Head
After nearly five years without a confirmed leader, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is headed by worker safety advocate Doug Parker.
“Finally after 1,747 days, @OSHA has a champion for workers right as its director,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Doug Parker will advocate for safe working conditions for all and hold employers who violate workers’ right accountable.”
Parker, who headed California’s division of occupational safety and health for the past two years, is likely to increase the agency’s inspectors and enforce its anti-retaliation rule. One-time staff... Read More