Consumer-Owned Electric Utility Proposed for Maine; Union Contracts to be Protected
January 28, 2019 - At a news conference at the Maine State House, Rep. Seth Berry, House Chair of the Energy and Utilities Committee, announced that he was submitting legislation to form a new consumer-owned utility.
The Maine Power Delivery Authority would not be run by the state and would not be financed by tax dollars in any way. If enacted, Maine Power would acquire all transmission and distribution assets of Central Maine Power and Emera Maine, compensating them fairly. All IBEW 1837 members would continue to be covered under the terms of their collective bargaining agreements... Read More
Nearly Five Years after Layoff, IBEW 1837 Member Returns to Brookfield with Gratitude to Union
September 26, 2018 - It’s all too common for some people to question the need for unions in 2018. “Unions had their place in days gone by but they’re no longer necessary,” they say. But don’t say that to Bill Brady at Brookfield’s Renewable Energy. Bill is one member of IBEW Local 1837 who clearly understands the value of union membership and having union representation in today’s workplace.
When Brookfield announced their intentions in 2014 to pare back staffing at their Maine hydro facilities, IBEW Local 1837 proceeding to enter into a determined round of negotiations with the Company... Read More
3-Year Contract Extension for IBEW Members at Wyman Station
September 22, 2018 - IBEW 1837 members working for NextEra Energy at Maine’s Wyman Station ratified a 3-year contract extension earlier this week.
The idea of an extension to the collective bargaining agreement was initially proposed by Union Stewards at the oil-fired power plant. IBEW 1837 Business Manager Dick Rogers brought the idea to the Company, who initially offered a 1.5% wage increase each year for three years with no other changes to the contract.
After some discussions between Rogers and the Company, the offer was improved to a wage increase of 2% in each of the first two years and... Read More
IBEW Members at WGME-TV Ratify New 3-Year Contract
September 20, 2018 - IBEW 1837 members working for Sinclair Broadcasting Group’s Portland, Maine, television station ratified a new 3-year agreement this week after rejecting a previous offer from the company by a 37 – 5 margin and authorizing a strike. The overwhelming strike vote was the first at WGME-TV in 30 years and helped to persuade the Company to improve their wage offer beyond what they’ve been offering their other employees.
Wages for those at or above top scale will increase 6 ¾% over the 3-year agreement while other employees in the wage progression will receive larger step... Read More
Union Family Helping Family
September 17, 2018 - Our Dear Friend, IBEW 1837 member and employee of Central Maine Power Kirsten Wooster’s daughter Hilary has been fighting a courageous battle with Ovarian Cancer.  We continue to hope for a miracle that everything turns around and she becomes healthy and happy again.  
Hilary is hoping to come home to be with her family and children Gage age 3 and Hannah 1. We hope to gather funds for the family to assist during this difficult time in their lives. We want them to know their IBEW and CMP family is thinking of them in hopes to give some type of... Read More
IBEW 1837 Union Meetings Resume After Summer Hiatus
September 4, 2018 - Meetings for members of IBEW Local #1837 resume this week after the usual summer break (except for Unit 6, Portland, which resumes in October). IBEW 1837 members are welcome at any unit meeting to discuss issues affecting their jobs and their union. There are also discussions about current events that affect working people and their unions.
Some meeting dates, times and locations have recently changed. Units may not meet during storms or on holidays. Some units do not meet every month. Check with your steward, call the union office, or check this website's calendar ... Read More
Union Wins Unemployment Benefits for NH Co-op Workers
August 28, 2018 - IBEW Local 1837 members employed by the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) are entitled to unemployment benefits for the time that they were on strike this May. That decision from the New Hampshire Employment Security Appeal Tribunal was handed down on Friday afternoon, August 24.
During the strike, IBEW encouraged our members to apply for unemployment benefits but NHEC argued after the strike that because of the work stoppage, our members were not eligible for those payments and an initial decision by a certifying officer agreed. The Union disagreed with the Company... Read More
Black Bear Hydro Members Approve 5-Year Contract
August 23, 2018 - IBEW 1837 members at Brookfield Energy’s Black Bear Hydro facilities in Milford, Maine, have ratified a new 5-year agreement.
The contract has wage increases every year – 2.75% in each of the first two years and 2.5% in each of the last three years.
Other featured improvements are a 6th week of vacation after 25 years, increased boot and meal allowances, and the pay for call-outs was increased from 2 hours to 4 hour minimums.
The contract also includes a $500 signing bonus. Over the term of the contract, the Company will eliminate the incentive bonus.
The... Read More
New 5-Year Unitil Contracts Approved by IBEW 1837 Members in New Hampshire
May 31, 2018 - IBEW 1837 members working for Unitil in New Hampshire have ratified new 5-year contract agreements that provide wage increases and other improvements in benefits.
A total of 38 members of IBEW Local 1837 work at two New Hampshire locations of Unitil Energy Systems, Inc. (UES): “Capital” in Concord and “Seacoast” in Kensington. They work as Lineworkers, Meter Mechanics, and some as Support Personnel. A second, smaller bargaining unit of five Electric System Operators work at Unitil Service Corporation's Centralized Electric Dispatch (CED) in Portsmouth.
Both contracts include... Read More
Union Votes to End Strike at New Hampshire Electric Cooperative
May 17, 2018 - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union #1837 members at the New Hampshire Electric Co-op voted this morning to ratify a new 3 1/2 -year contract agreement and end their 10-day strike. The contract includes wage adjustments for some classifications, annual wage increases for all bargaining unit members and improvements in the retirement plans for union employees.

Significantly, the final agreement does not include the Company’s proposed language that would have given them the ability to modify or eliminate their contributions to employee... Read More