IBEW Members at NextEra Ratify Contract

March 25, 2015 - Members of IBEW Local Union #1837 at NextEra have ratified a new 44-month contract.  The collective bargaining agreement includes wage adjustments for some classifications, yearly wage increases for all union members, and a change to benefits. While the negotiating team struggled with the company’s offer, they felt it was the best they were going to be able to achieve.

“I want to thank everyone who was able to attend the meetings and understand the offer being presented.  I also want to thank the committee for the hard work they put in to realize the gains that were made” said IBEW 1837 Business Manager Dick Rogers.

Brother Rogers was joined on the Union Negotiating Team by Assistant Business Manager Bill Dunn, IBEW 1837 President Ray Colello, and Shop Stewards John Kelly and Peter Brennan.

 “I want to recognize Dick and Bill for their expertise handling contract negotiations,” Brother Brennan said. “They had skills and professionalism to handle a tough contract. Our members should understand the money they spend for their union dues goes toward these negotiating expenses.”

Bill Dunn expressed his gratitude to the union membership for their patience through the lengthy negotiating process. “It’s clear that the membership was disappointed at the lack of respect shown by the company towards them,” Dunn said. “We hope the company will use every bit of their efforts in the future to give their employees more respect than what they have given over the past year and during these negotiations, and attempt to rebuild the trust that they had worked on at one time. We can only hope they might renew their stated values.”

There are 42 members of IBEW 1837 who work for NextEra (formerly Florida Power and Light) generating electricity. They maintain and operate Wyman Station oil-fired plant on Cousins Island in Yarmouth, Maine, and the oil-fired Cape Station in South Portland.