Unitil Electric System Operators Seek to Join Union
August 2, 2012 - A majority of the Electric System Operators at Unitil Service Corp., Inc. in Portsmouth, New Hampshire have decided that they would like to be represented by IBEW Local 1837 for collective bargaining.
The System Operators indicated their interest in union representation by signing authorization cards that were submitted to the National Labor Relations Board. As a result of the Union's petition and the Company's refusal to voluntarily recognize the Union, the NLRB has scheduled a secret ballot election on Wednesday, September 5 in Portsmouth.
Although there are several issues... Read More
IBEW 1837 Member Makes A Run for the Maine House
July 5, 2012 - IBEW Local 1837 member Aaron Gilman has been a mechanic at Maine's Bangor Hydro Electric for the last six years. This November, he hopes to add "State Representative" to his résumé after being recruited to campaign for the Maine House of Representatives.
Maine's 12th House District includes Gilman's hometown of Enfield as well as Edinburg, Howland, Lincoln, Maxfield and Plantation of Seboeis, plus part of the unorganized territory of North Penobscot. He'll be running on the Democratic Party line against the incumbent, Republican Party candidate Jeffery Gifford.
A close follower... Read More
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... Read More
Maine Public Service Meter Representatives "Sign Up" for IBEW 1837
April 24, 2012 - The Meter Representatives at Maine Public Service Company have unanimously decided that they would like to be represented by IBEW Local 1837 for collective bargaining.  
All of the Meter Representatives at MPS indicated their interest in union representation by signing authorization cards after meeting with Business Manager Dick Rogers last Friday night in Presque Isle. In a phone call Monday morning with Gerry Chasse, President and Chief Operating Officer of Maine Public Service and Bangor Hydro Electric, the Union requested that the Company voluntarily recognize... Read More
So-Called "Right to Work" Bills Tabled in New Hampshire and Maine
April 11, 2012 - The NH Senate voted today to table repeat so-called "Right to Work" legislation, acknowledging the legislation would fail but leaving the door open for anti-worker/anti-union House Speaker William O’Brien.
Following the vote, New Hampshire workers, labor leaders and community allies expressed hope that the Senate would take a similar approach to additional anti-worker bills from the House and move on to more important issues.
“The Senate took a step in the right direction today in voting to indefinitely table HB 1677. Their vote follows confirms what we hear each and every... Read More
Bangor Hydro System Operators Win IBEW Union Vote 8 – 0
March 29, 2012 – In a secret ballot election last night administered by the National Labor Relations Board in Bangor, the System Operators at Bangor Hydro Electric voted 8 – 0 to be represented by IBEW Local 1837 for collective bargaining. These highly-skilled workers are often referred to as “Dispatchers.”
During the union organizing campaign initiated by the System Operators themselves, issues were raised about fairness and unpaid overtime, but the desire to have the ability to negotiate improvements for their future was a primary motivation. In spite of the Company’s efforts to persuade... Read More
PSNH Generation Facilities Threatened by House Bill 1238
March 28, 2012 UPDATE - NH House Bill 1238 has been tabled by a 304-19 vote today by the New Hampshire House of Representatives. IBEW 1837 thanks everyone for their support!
March 26, 2012 - This Wednesday, March 28, the New Hampshire House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill that may be devastating to many members of IBEW 1837 and to the union itself.
IBEW Local 1837 is in complete agreement with PSNH in their opposition to House Bill 1238, a bill that could affect 186 jobs for our union members at generation facilities owned by the Company. These are good-paying union jobs, and... Read More
Bangor Hydro System Operators Organize to Join IBEW 1837
February 17, 2012 - The System Operators at Bangor Hydro Electric Company have unanimously decided that they would like to be represented by IBEW Local 1837 for collective bargaining. These highly-skilled workers are also commonly known as “Dispatchers.”
All of the System Operators at BHE indicated their interest in union representation by signing authorization cards which were subsequently submitted to the National Labor Relations Board. The Union has requested that the Company voluntarily recognize the new bargaining unit and commence negotiations as soon as possible.
"The System Operators... Read More
N.U. Call Center Workers Look to Join IBEW 1837
Customer Service Representatives at the Northeast Utilities Manchester Call Center are making a bid to join IBEW Local 1837, but Company representatives are pulling out the stops to try to thwart the campaign. More than 150 employees at the Center take customer calls for PSNH, Connecticut Light and Power and Western Massachusetts Electric, answering calls about billing and service for the electric utilities owned by N.U.
The Call Center workers have challenging jobs and work long hours, especially during storm restoration. They’ve cited a pattern of unfair, embarrassing and inconsistent... Read More
NH House Bill 1238 Would Force PSNH to Sell Their Generation Assets
February 7, 2012 - IBEW Local 1837 is in complete agreement with PSNH in their opposition to House Bill 1238, a bill that could affect 186 jobs for our members at generation facilities owned by the Company. These are good-paying union jobs, and many other non-union positions could also be impacted. As PSNH indicates in their flier distributed to employees . . .
"As proposed, House Bill 1238 would force PSNH to sell off PSNH Generation plants by December 1, 2013. If approved as proposed, this bill would have far-reaching consequences for the entire state, and could impact the ability for PSNH... Read More