Members Approve New 4-Year Contract at Brookfield

File photo: Chief Steward Ed Goodale on dam in West Buxton in 2013.

February 22, 2023 - IBEW 1837 members at Brookfield have ratified a new 4-year contract agreement with annual pay increases for every member and additional vacation time for most employees. Voting took place on February 1 at multiple locations. The new agreement runs through February 28, 2027.
Members will receive an $8,000 ratification bonus and annual pay increases of 3%, 3.25%, 3.25% and 3.25%. The minimum straight-time call-out was increased to five hours and the contract establishes a two-hour straight-time call-out for solving issues over the phone after hours. Production Clerks... Read More
IBEW 1837 Members Receive Lifesaving Awards

Kevin Young (second from left) joined by IBEW Lifesaving Award recipients Dan Morin, Steve Sager and Scott Madore. Cameron Bragg (not pictured) also received an award.

Versant Maine Members Use CPR and AED Skills to Help Save a Co-Worker:
Cameron Bragg, Scott Madore, Danny Morin and Steve Sager are Lineworkers from Versant Maine who performed lifesaving CPR measures on fellow IBEW 1837 member Kevin Young. Brother Young had suffered an apparent heart attack in Presque Isle on February 2, 2022 and was found crouched down in a snowbank on the side of the road. The actions of the four lineworkers have been recognized by the IBEW International Safety Department with Lifesaving Awards.
Brother Cameron Bragg told IBEW that it was an incredible coincidence that... Read More
IBEW 1837 Member Retires After 64 Years at CMP

Brother Vaughn Bridges admires his new "IBEW retiree" pin presented to him by a member of the Local 1837's staff late last year.

January 9, 2023 - Vaughn Bridges has retired from Central Maine Power after an incredible 64 years working for Maine’s largest electric utility. The 86-year-old Service Worker 2/C had the longest tenure of any member of IBEW Local 1837 and apparently worked longer than anybody for any Avangrid affiliate.
“As far as I know, nobody from Spain, Japan or anywhere has worked as long,” Brother Bridges said. “When they were handing out service pins, that’s when they realized it.”
Starting out as a Meter Reader Apprentice in Bucksport in 1958, Bridges worked many jobs at CMP, moving to the Belfast... Read More
Members Approve New Contract at Kittery Water

Kittery Water District Service Technician Matthew Crosby casts his contract vote ballot in the District’s garage.

December 14, 2022 - IBEW 1837 members at the Kittery Water District have ratified a new 2-year contract agreement with improvements in wages and benefits and without any concessions. The District’s trustees, who actively participated in the negotiations along with the District Superintendent, must formally approve the agreement when they meet on December 21.
“We’re grateful to negotiating team members Linda Johnson, Matthew Crosby, and Brandon Woods for the time and effort they put into negotiating an excellent contract,” said IBEW 1837 Organizer and Business Representative Matt Beck. “To... Read More
Member Profile: Don Palmer, Marathon Runner

                                                     

September 13, 2022 - Unitil Lead Line Technician Don Palmer went for his DOT physical and was told by the doctor, “Hey, you’re getting a little heavy.” 224 pounds, to be exact.
“That check-up was a real eye-opener,” Palmer said. “I ate a lot of awful stuff and started eating better including getting rid of the beer and soda.”
He got more active and started losing weight, first some Spartan Races and... Read More
Quick Notes and Announcements
New Mailing Address for IBEW Local #1837 Maine Office
We haven’t moved but we are now asking everyone to direct USPS mail to our new P.O. Box. Please send U.S.mail to IBEW Local #1837, P.O. Box 457, Manchester, ME 04351. And don’t forget to update your mailing address, email addresses, or phone numbers if they change by calling the union office at 207-623-1030 or email union@ibew1837.org.
 
New E-Board Members Join Leadership Team
Arthur Cornelissen has stepped down from the E-Board and Anita Libby and John Heald have retired. We congratulate them on their service to the Union and... Read More
Members at Sea-3 Propane Facility Approve 2-Year Contract
June 30, 2022 - IBEW 1837 members at Sea-3 approved a two-year contract in June with 5% wage increases each year, July 2022 and July 2023. The agreement includes Sunday premium increases to $10 per hour and boot allowance increases to $150 per year. There are no changes to the health plan and the cost sharing. 
The sick plan is changing to a personal day plan. There will also be a transition from the existing pension savings plan into the union-sponsored National Electrical Annuity Plan.
Sea-3 is a crucial component of the energy distribution system in New England, and one of only about... Read More
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