IBEW 1837 News
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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.
“The community support we’ve received has been amazing,” said Peter McLaughlin, chair of the bargaining committee of the nearly 2,000 union workers at FairPoint. “People aren’t just writing us checks, they’re walking our picket lines, they’re coming to our rallies, and now they’re literally singing our song. We can’t thank these musicians enough — and the people all across Maine — who are standing with us to win a Fair Deal for New England.”
The FairPoint strikers have received substantial gifts of food and other items in addition to the nearly $150,000 given to the strike fund. Highlights of the support effort include hundreds of Thanksgiving turkeys and food baskets distributed to strikers by the nonprofit Food AND Medicine; tens of thousands of dollars in grocery store gift cards given out by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; and a drive to collect thousands of Christmas presents for strikers’ children by the Communications Workers of America.
“This outpouring of support has allowed our strikers to remain incredibly strong,” said Don Trementozzi, president of Communications Workers of America Local 1400. “And thanks to the generosity of the artists behind this concert and so many others, we can tell FairPoint executives that we’ll fight one day longer, one day stronger.”
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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.A strike fund for workers at FairPoint is raising money to support members of IBEW and CWA with urgent financial needs. Show solidarity with your union brothers and sisters in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Every donation will be greatly appreciated. To contribute, make checks payable to IBEW-CWA Solidarity Fund and mail them to 21 Gabriel Dr, Augusta, ME 04330, or visit www.gofundme.com/ibew-cwa-strike-relief
These union workers have been repairing, installing, and expanding the telecommunications network in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont for decades. They connect homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals. They believe a hard day's work deserves a living wage.
They are in a battle against FairPoint Communications, New England's largest telecom company. FairPoint is owned by Wall Street hedge funds. This is Wall Street vs. Main Street.
They are on strike because FairPoint executives and their Wall Street investors decided it was more important to outsource good northern New England jobs than follow through on their commitment to provide good service.
They're fighting for good, middle-class jobs with decent wages, job security, affordable healthcare, and a secure retirement.
Take action by signing a petition to support those workers here: FairPoint Petition. Better yet, join them on the picket line. For more information, visit us at fairnessatfairpoint.com or follow us at facebook.com/fairnessatfairpoint.
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Michaud speaks on Labor Day 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.
In recent letters to our represented members, IBEW 1837 Business Manager Dick Rogers and President Ray Colello continued to stress that their top priority remains giving members the best representation possible by negotiating and protecting our contracts.
“Since many of our members belong to different political parties or hold contrasting views on the various issues of the day, we are reluctant to get involved in politics,” Rogers and Colello said. “However, we feel we do have a responsibility to let you know how the decisions we all make on Election Day can affect the ability of IBEW Local #1837 to secure good wages, good benefits and a safe workplace for you. In recent years, basic worker protections – from the freedom to form a union to the right to a safe workplace – have been under attack.”
After a thorough process that includes issue questionnaires and an analysis of voting records of each of the candidates, the New Hampshire and Maine AFL-CIO’s issue endorsements of Democrats, Republicans and Independents who demonstrate an understanding of the importance of labor unions and a commitment to working people. This includes not only the gubernatorial candidates but also candidates for important state legislative races and federal contests such as the United States Senate and House of Representatives.
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Union contract team at Sea-3 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.
The new collective bargaining agreement contains no other changes.
Sea-3 has not been consistently profitable in recent years due to changes in the propane marketplace. Previously, the Union had participated in concessionary bargaining in order to help the Company get back on its feet.
A proposed expansion of the Newington rail facility that could expand the work at Sea-3 has encountered some opposition in the surrounding communities. A final decision is not expected until sometime next year.
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September 12, 2016 - Local Unit Meetings have resumed after a summer break for members of IBEW Local #1837 throughout New Hampshire and Maine. The monthly meetings are an opportunity for our members to discuss issues affecting their jobs and their Union. In most cases, Union Business Managers, staff or elected officers will participate in the meetings. Members are welcome to attend any unit meeting although they can only vote in their home area units.
Meetings may be postponed or cancelled in the summer months, during storms or on holidays. Please check with the Union Office, your Shop Steward or our website calendar before driving to a meeting.
Some meeting times and locations may have changed in recent months. Please check the list below or use the link to download and print a copy to post on your Union bulletin board.
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Vote Tallying 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.
Also re-elected to their posts were Vice President Bill Tarallo, Secretary Pamela Paquette and Treasurer Kerry Guptill. Re-elected to their seats on the Executive Board were Anthony Sapienza, Paul Morin, Lisa Bartell, Julie Goodell, Michelle Crocker, Christopher Guppy, Jeffrey Linscott and Patrick Cote. Elected to their first terms on the E-Board were Rebecca Johnson and Jeffrey Huckins.
Complete results including vote totals are available in the Members Only section of this website.
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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. -
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
