IBEW 1837 Effort Helps Electric System Operators at Unitil to Receive Back Pay
December 6, 2012 - Recently organized workers at Unitil's Centralized Electric Dispatch (CED) in Portsmouth will be receiving back pay as the result of unfair labor practice charges filed by IBEW Local 1837, and a settlement agreement between the National Labor Relations Board, Unitil Service Corporation and  the Union.
In August, the Company granted wage increases and new payment for overtime to employees at Unitil CED who were not involved in an organizing campaign concerning five Electric System Operators, who sought representation by the IBEW. At that time, IBEW Local 1837 believed... Read More
Maine Public Service Customer Service Representatives Decide to Join Union
November 21, 2012 - Following up on a series of organizing victories in New Hampshire and Maine, IBEW 1837's membership development efforts have also paid off in Presque Isle. A majority of the Customer Service Representatives at Maine Public Service (MPS) have signed union authorization cards indicating that they want IBEW Local 1837 to represent them for the purpose of collective bargaining.
To their credit, the Company agreed to accept the majority decision of their employees after verifying the authenticity of the authorization cards by a neutral third party, in this case, a faith leader... Read More
Bangor Hydro System Operators Ratify First Contract
November 21, 2012 - System Operators at Bangor Hydro Electric (BHE) have ratified their first contract agreement with the Company. These highly-skilled workers are often referred to as “Dispatchers.”
In late March, in an election administered by the National Labor Relations Board in Bangor, the System Operators at BHE voted 8 – 0 to be represented by IBEW Local 1837 for collective bargaining. During the union organizing campaign, initiated by the System Operators themselves,  the workers raised issues about fairness and unpaid overtime, but the desire to have the ability to negotiate... Read More
CMP and IBEW 1837 Reach New AMI Agreement
November 2, 2012 - IBEW Local 1837 and Central Maine Power Company have signed a settlement agreement that essentially resolves all remaining issues resulting from the 2010 AMI Transition Agreement and a subsequent arbitration decision in favor of the union. Automated Metering Infrastructure (or "AMI") is the system that supports the so-called "Smart Meters" which can be read remotely and are now being used by the majority of CMP's customers.
Under the new agreement, no member of IBEW 1837 will be subjected to an involuntary layoff, and all members on the recall and to-be-released lists who... Read More
Maggie Hassan Gets Rare IBEW 1837 Endorsement for NH Gov. in Final Weeks of Campaign
October 24, 2012 - The last two years have seen exhausting battles in Concord and Augusta against so-called “Right to Work” bills and other anti-worker initiatives. It is only because of the sustained, excellent work of labor activists and allies in both states that we were able to minimize the damage against working people and their unions.
With New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch’s decision not to seek another two-year term, November’s election looms especially large.  Republican candidate Ovide Lamontagne, has proudly proclaimed that he will be like Wisconsin’s “Scott Walker on steroids.”... Read More
IBEW 1837 Members Ratify Contract at NH Electric Co-op and Avoid Strike
October 5, 2012 - IBEW Local 1837 members at the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative have ratified a new 5 1/2- year contract agreement that provides wage increases and preserves a defined benefit pension plan for current and new employees. The ratification vote prevented a looming strike at the utility that serves some 83,000 homes and business across 115 towns and cities.
The vote at NHEC's Plymouth headquarters followed a week's contract extension requested by a federal mediator. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #1837 represents approximately 85 employees at the company... Read More
Electric System Operators at Unitil Vote to Join Union
September 6, 2012 - The Electric System Operators at Unitil Service Corporation's Centralized Electric Dispatch (CED) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire have voted to be represented by IBEW Local 1837 for collective bargaining. A majority of the workers had indicated their interest in joining the IBEW by signing union authorization cards in July.
In a secret ballot election administered by the National Labor Relations Board, these workers confirmed their original decision by a 3 to 2 margin. Their victory came on the heels of Company tactics that the Union believes constituted unfair labor... Read More
Tentative Contract Agreement Reached at MPS for Meter Representatives
August 17, 2012 - After only two bargaining sessions, Union and Company Negotiating Teams have inked a tentative agreement on a first contract for the recently-organized Meter Representatives at Maine Public Service Company (MPS).
Workers in the new bargaining unit are set to vote on whether to approve the contract agreement on Friday, August 24. The first union contract for the Meter Representatives includes a wage increase as well as a lump sum F.R. (fire retardant) clothing allowance. Both sides also reached tentative agreement to incorporate the Meter Representatives into the existing... Read More
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