After more than two and a half years of organizing, hearings, negotiations, and collective action, Eversource New Hampshire System Operators ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with IBEW Local 1837 in July 2026.
The operators, who manage the transmission and distribution electric grids across Eversource’s New Hampshire service territory, voted to join IBEW Local 1837 in late 2023. Their organizing effort was followed by proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and a lengthy first-contract bargaining process.
As negotiations continued, operators raised concerns about staffing shortages, scheduling, overtime, and the impact those issues had on the highly skilled workforce responsible for keeping New Hampshire’s electric grid operating safely and reliably. In 2025, members held informational pickets at Eversource NH headquarters and online to call attention to the slow pace of negotiations and their push for a fair first contract.
Business Manager Tony Sapienza thanked the operators for remaining united throughout the process.
“Special thanks to all the operators who participated in this organizing drive. From signing cards, attending hearings and two and a half years of very frustrating negotiations, the operators stayed strong and dedicated. Although no first contract is perfect, this agreement puts the operators in a much better place with respect to overtime and scheduling.”
The agreement marks an important milestone for the operators and establishes a foundation they can continue to build upon in future negotiations. Congratulations to the Eversource NH System Operators on achieving their first union contract.
