Business Manager Tony Sapienza
P: (603) 743-1652
March 25, 2016 - An 18-month collective bargaining agreement for 20 members of IBEW 1837 working at Granite Ridge has been ratified and will go into effect on Sunday, March 27, 2016. It’s the first contract for the union local with Calpine Corporation, a Houston-based generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources with more than 80 power plants.
March 4, 2016 - Members of IBEW Local #1837 have elected delegates to represent them at the 39th IBEW International Convention in St. Louis. The delegates (in alphabetical order) are Pat Cote, Renee Gilman, Jeff Huckins, and Pamela Paquette.
Business Manager Dick Rogers and President Bill Tarallo will also represent the Local by virtue of their elected office in the Union.
Complete election results are available in the Members Only section by Clicking Here.
February 29, 2016 - After nearly 20 years as an IBEW union member employed by Bangor Hydro and its successor company Emera Maine, Renee Gilman is now working for Local #1837 as a Business Representative. The newly-created Business Representative position is part of a staff restructuring plan proposed by Business Manager Dick Rogers and approved by the IBEW 1837 Executive Board following the recent retirement of Assistant Business Manager Bill Dunn.
January 26, 2016 - The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union #1837 Executive Board has voted to endorse Emily Cain for Congress in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.
The IBEW Founders' Scholarship honors the dedicated wiremen and linemen who, on November 28, 1891, organized the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Each year the officers of the IBEW are pleased to offer its working members scholarships on a competitive basis. It is hoped that the awards will not only contribute to the personal development of our members but also steward the electrical industry that our founders envisioned.
January 6, 2016 - Throughout the years, first as a Union Steward and Chief Steward in the 70’s and then as a Union Executive Board Representative throughout the 80’s, leading to his role as President of IBEW Local #1837 beginning in 1991, Ray Colello has always been a devout and dedicated trade unionist. His decision last month to pass the baton to Vice President Bill Tarallo to finish out his term was one he made because he thought it would be best for the Union.
December 22, 2015 - The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union #1837 Executive Board has voted to endorse Bernie Sanders for President in the New Hampshire Democratic Primary and the Maine Democratic Caucus.
December 21, 2015 - The young daughter of an IBEW 1837 member will be spending this Christmas in the hospital suffering from a rare form of leukemia. Jazzlyn Giuffrida just celebrated her first birthday this month and is a patient at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland.
UPDATE: October 23, 2015 - Cynthia Phinney won election to a 4-year term as President of the Maine AFL-CIO at their state convention in Bangor.
October 1, 2015 - After serving union members for more than 20 years, first as an IBEW Shop Steward and then as an Assistant Business Manager beginning in 2006, Bill Dunn retired this week from his position with IBEW and his job at Central Maine Power Company.
September 1, 2015 - The first Monday in September is a day for workers: Labor's Day. It's a popular time for union members and their families to possibly enjoy one last taste of summer while taking stock of the many challenges facing working people today. Special guest speakers and awards are part of the program at some events sponsored by the two State AFL-CIO's and some Central Labor Councils.
August 26, 2015 - It would be hard to find someone at Eversource more well-liked than Tom Rzasa, a System Electrician at 1250 Hooksett Rd. T&D who retired at the end of July after 45 years with the Company. A friendly and easy-going guy, Brother Rzasa has seen a lot of changes since he started at New Hampshire’s largest electric utility in 1970.
July 16, 2015 - IBEW 1837 members at Emera ratified a new 5-year contract on July 2nd that includes wage increases in most classifications and comparatively modest increases in health insurance premiums for all members. Voter turnout was high with more than 90% of the 200 workers in the bargaining unit casting ballots in either Bangor or Presque Isle.
UPDATE: July 8, 2015 - The final result of the NLRB election was a narrow Union loss 64 - 60. As a result these workers will continue to be unrepresented employees of Eversource.
June 29, 2015 - A majority of the Customer Service Representatives at Eversource Customer Experience in Manchester, New Hampshire (also known as the "Call Center") have signed union authorization cards to be represented by IBEW Local #1837. An election to certify the Union as their bargaining representative will be administered by the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday, July 8.
June 2, 2015 - Negotiators for the Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 and Eversource have reached a tentative contract agreement for workers at the former NStar in Massachusetts. A strike threat had been looming for weeks, potentially affecting workers in New Hampshire employed by the Company.
According to the UWUA Local 369 website, a ratification vote has been scheduled for June 11. Challenging issues during weeks of negotiations included job security, working conditions and health care.
May 21, 2015 - IBEW members working in the electric generation assets of Eversource NH (formerly PSNH) have overwhelmingly ratified an agreement that extends their current contract while providing additional employee protections if the fossil or hydro facilities are sold or closed.
The deadline to submit essays and application forms for the NH AFL-CIO Scholarship has been extended. They must be received no later than 4:00 p.m., Friday, May 15, 2015 by the NH AFL-CIO Scholarship Committee, 161 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett, NH 03106.
This year, the NH AFL-CIO will again award scholarships to members in good standing of an affiliated local union, their spouses, children, stepchildren, or legal wards. First prize is $1,000. Additional prizes are contingent on funding.
April 16, 2015 - A 3-year contract agreement has been ratified by IBEW Local #1837 members working at WGME and WPFO in Portland, Maine. The margin in favor of the new deal with the Sinclair Broadcast Group was the tightest in the union’s history at the CBS affiliate.
“It was clear from the discussions we had with members that most of them were very dissatisfied with the contract package,” IBEW 1837 Business Manager Dick Rogers said. “I think that a narrow majority just felt that the Union Negotiating Team had probably gotten the best deal they could get from this company.”
Members of IBEW 1837 can now custom order their own T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baseball caps online from Exquisite Stitches. All clothing is either union made or Made in the USA.
There's a wide variety of available logos, items and sizes available that can be custom stitched by a local company.
Several Logos Available
You can also get more information about other logo options and special orders of FR (fire retardant) stitching required in some job classifications by contacting them directly. Click here for more information.
April 7, 2015 - Eversource (formerly known as PSNH) recently held its annual United Way campaign. Pam Paquette, Utility Group – Tilton Line and Becky Johnson, Generation – Schiller Station, have been the IBEW Local 1837’s union leadership serving as cabinet members. Pam and Becky were available to go to workplace campaign drives to assist and also authored correspondence from the Local encouraging members to take part in the campaign.
April 3, 2015 - Brother Aaron Gilman was sworn-in today as the new Unit 10 E-Board Representative at the Executive Board meeting in Manchester, Maine. Gilman was appointed by IBEW Local Union #1837 President Ray Colello to replace Brother Jeff Linscott who left the Bangor area to take a job in Fort Kent.
Gilman is employed by Emera Maine as a Lead Working Mechanic in Bangor. He began working at Bangor Hydro in 2006.
In the photo from left, Brother Gilman, Pat Cote, Lisa Bartell, President Ray Colello and Vice President Bill Tarallo administering the oath.
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.
AUGUSTA, ME (FEBRUARY 22, 2015 UNION NEWS RELEASE)—After three days of voting, IBEW and CWA members in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont have ratified tentative agreements with FairPoint Communications. The new agreements protect good jobs and ensure quality telecommunications service for New England communities.
February 19, 2015 - BREAKING NEWS/UNION NEWS RELEASE: FairPoint Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRP); System Council T-9 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (AFL-CIO) Locals 2320, 2326, and 2327; and the Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO) Local 1400 are pleased to announce that today they have reached tentative agreements on the terms for new collective bargaining agreements.
December 18, 2014 - Laurie Kelley has become the new full-time Office Manager of IBEW Local Union #1837, working out of the Maine office in Manchester, Maine. Laurie succeeds longtime Office Manager Debbie Owen, who recently retired after nearly 35 years at the Local.
For many of our members, the Union Office Manager is the friendly and professional voice on the other end of the telephone. The Office Manager answers multiple lines in our Manchester, Maine office, frequently fielding urgent inquiries from members looking for help with a problem at work.
December 12, 2014 — A lineup of some of Portland’s most prominent musicians is holding a “Holiday FunkFest for FairPoint Strikers” on Monday, December 22, at Empire music hall. The evening will be headlined by the eight-piece band Model Airplane. Adam Waxman and Joe Farrell and special guest Kenya Hall will also perform.
The announcement of the benefit concert at Empire marks the latest surge in public support for the FairPoint strikers. Since the strike began on October 17, the workers’ relief fund has received nearly $150,000 in donations.
November 1, 2014 - Although IBEW Local #1837 does not represent these workers, we are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in their struggle for a fair contract.
October 22, 2014 - Re-election campaigns for the Governors of New Hampshire and Maine have been getting plenty of attention from members of IBEW Local #1837 and other pro-worker groups. New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan has been a consistent union ally while Maine Governor Paul LePage has supported union-busting “Right to Work” legislation. Both are seeking their second terms on Tuesday, November 4.
July 17, 2014 - IBEW 1837 members at Sea-3 have ratified a new, 2-year contract with an immediate 4 ½% wage increase. Sea-3 is a propane terminal facility in Newington, New Hampshire.
Union members agreed that Operators would assume extra duties that were previously performed by managerial staff and some represented members. Those employees no longer work at Sea-3 and were not replaced by the Company. That portion of the agreement will terminate at the end of the contract term or if new employees are hired to fill those jobs.
June 20, 2014 - Dick Rogers was re-elected as Business Manager/Financial Secretary and Ray Colello was re-elected as President of IBEW Local 1837 following a mail-in secret ballot election. Ballots were counted today with Election Judge Cynthia Phinney helping to supervise the tally at our Union Local office in Manchester, Maine. She was aided in the count by Election Teller Bob McNeff.
May 6, 2014 - Members of IBEW 1837 in Central Maine Power Company's largest bargaining unit have ratified a new 3-year, 10-month contract agreement. Union members cast their ballots at various CMP service centers on Tuesday, May 6. A meeting of the membership was held in Gardiner on Sunday, May 4 to discuss the proposal and the Union Negotiating Team’s positive recommendation for ratification. While the Local’s policy is not to share the percentages of the results of the vote, the Negotiating Team was pleased that 92% of the membership turned out to cast their ballots.
April 12, 2014 - Two members of IBEW Local Union #104 have died in a boon crane collapse while working in Bourne, Massachusetts. The worksite was off the Scenic Highway near Cape Cod. One of the accident victims was identified in news reports as 34-year-old John Loughran.
Additional details may be found in a news story published by Boston television station WCVB-TV 5. Please keep our union brothers and their families in your thoughts and prayers
April 7, 2014 - Negotiators for IBEW Local Union #1837 and Central Maine Power are prepared to begin negotiations next week on a successor contract agreement for the large production bargaining unit. The current agreement runs through the end of this month.
Union members rejected the Company’s offer of a modified 3-year contract extension last week.
The Union Negotiating Team and Company representatives will begin contract talks on Tuesday, April 15. Five sessions between the two sides had previously been scheduled.
March 28, 2014 - Union and Company representatives have prepared a modified 3-year contract extension that will be presented next week to IBEW members in the large production bargaining unit at CMP.
IBEW members at CMP are receiving a summary of the agreement terms and relevant documents to consider prior to a ratification vote.
Left to right: IBEW negotiators Joe Gilmore, Scott Kirby and Tom Ryan
March 26, 2014 - IBEW 1837 members at Granite Ridge Energy in Londonderry, New Hampshire have approved a new 3-year contract that maintains their current benefits package and increases their wages by more than 8½% over the term of the agreement.
March 24, 2014 - IBEW 1837 members in the Central Maine Power Administrative and Technical bargaining unit have ratified a new 4-year contract agreement. This group of 42 workers had been working without a contract since July 1, 2013.
Although the contract was ratified, nearly all of the workers expressed disappointment and frustration in the final deal. Those feelings were echoed by union officials.
February 24, 2014 - Fiber Microwave Technicians at Central Maine Power have ratified their first union contract. These six workers are now part of the largest existing bargaining unit at CMP along with hundreds of other IBEW members. The Fiber Microwave Technicians voted to have union representation in a National Labor Relations Board election last May.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we’re better off,” said Phil Fessenden, one of the Fiber Microwave Techs. “It was an avenue to better our position at CMP and ensure a more productive future for our department.”
IBEW members will perform pole-setting in some areas under the agreement.
February 10, 2014 - Customer Service Representatives at the Central Maine Power Call Center in Augusta have ratified their first union contract with the Company. An overwhelming majority of the 46 CSR’s voted late last week to accept the collective bargaining agreement negotiated between IBEW Local 1837 and CMP. The workers had voted to organize a union this past June.
November 27, 2013 - IBEW members working for NextEra Energy Resources at their Maine fossil plants have ratified a one-year contract extension. The collective bargaining agreement will run through February 28, 2015
November 26, 2013 - The Building Mechanics and Attendant at Public Service Company of New Hampshire have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement and have officially become members of IBEW Local Union #1837. The contract vote was held this morning at the PSNH garage facility in Manchester.
October 30, 2013 - Union members at Littleton Water and Light (LWL) have ratified a new 5-year contract a full two months before the expiration of their current collective bargaining agreement.
The successor agreement takes effect on January 1, 2014 and runs through December 31, 2018 with 2.8% wage increases in each year of the contract.
October 8, 2013 - IBEW Local 1837 is mourning the loss of our friend and union brother Kris Jacobson who passed away on Sunday after being hospitalized for some time.
October 2, 2013 – IBEW members at Maine Public Service (MPS) have ratified a new contract with an average wage increase of 8.8% over two years. The agreement also includes improvements in overtime, call-out, standby, and system emergency pay as well as a number of other improvements. The contract is an addendum to the collective bargaining agreement the Union already has with Bangor Hydro (BHE), also owned by Emera, Inc.
The contract represents the integration of the agreements at the two companies.
August 8, 2013 - The Electric System Operators at Unitil Service Corporation's Centralized Electric Dispatch (CED) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement.
A majority of the workers had voted last September to be represented by IBEW Local #1837 in a secret ballot election administered by the National Labor Relations Board.
July 31, 2013 - Customer Service Representatives at the Northeast Utilities Call Center have lost their bid to join the Union by a 55 - 93 vote. A secret ballot election was conducted by the National Labor Relations Board after a long, contentious campaign marred by unfair labor practice charges against the Company.
In spite of Company threats, interrogations, and creating the impression that employees were under surveillance as a result of their support for the Union, nearly 40% of the Customer Service Representatives voted to be represented by IBEW Local #1837.
July 12, 2013 - IBEW Local 1837 members at Black Bear Hydro Partners, LLC have approved a new 5-year contract that includes wage increases in each year alongside a gradually-increasing cap on the medical insurance contribution rate for employees. The ratification vote took place at the company’s headquarters in Milford, Maine.
The agreement also includes an increase in the Company’s 401(k) contribution, and an increase in the annual boot allowance and the addition of an annual allowance toward a work Carhartt jacket or work bibs.
June 10, 2013 – Members of IBEW Local #1837 in both Utility and Generation at Public Service Company of New Hampshire have approved a new 4-year contract agreement with the Company. The contract calls for an 11¼% (3, 2.75, 2.5 & 3%) wage increase over the term of the agreement with cash bonuses for the workers in each of the first two years.
“While it certainly wasn’t everything we wanted, the Committee worked hard to get the best deal possible,” said IBEW 1837 Business Manager Dick Rogers.
June 6, 2013 - Customer Service Representatives at the Northeast Utilities Call Center trying to organize a Union have been repeatedly subjected to policies and practices that violate their rights under the National Labor Relations Act, leading the Regional Director of Region One of the National Labor Relations Board to authorize issuance of complaints against the Company.
June 5, 2013 - Customer Service Representatives at the Central Maine Power Company Call Center in Augusta voted today to decide if they wanted to be represented by IBEW Local #1837 for collective bargaining. In a secret ballot election administered by the National Labor Relations Board, a majority of the 42 employees on the eligible voter list voted in favor of the Union.