Bangor Hydro System Operators Win IBEW Union Vote 8 – 0
March 29, 2012 – In a secret ballot election last night administered by the National Labor Relations Board in Bangor, the System Operators at Bangor Hydro Electric voted 8 – 0 to be represented by IBEW Local 1837 for collective bargaining. These highly-skilled workers are often referred to as “Dispatchers.”
During the union organizing campaign initiated by the System Operators themselves, issues were raised about fairness and unpaid overtime, but the desire to have the ability to negotiate improvements for their future was a primary motivation. In spite of the Company’s efforts to persuade... Read More
PSNH Generation Facilities Threatened by House Bill 1238
March 28, 2012 UPDATE - NH House Bill 1238 has been tabled by a 304-19 vote today by the New Hampshire House of Representatives. IBEW 1837 thanks everyone for their support!
March 26, 2012 - This Wednesday, March 28, the New Hampshire House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill that may be devastating to many members of IBEW 1837 and to the union itself.
IBEW Local 1837 is in complete agreement with PSNH in their opposition to House Bill 1238, a bill that could affect 186 jobs for our union members at generation facilities owned by the Company. These are good-paying union jobs, and... Read More
Bangor Hydro System Operators Organize to Join IBEW 1837
February 17, 2012 - The System Operators at Bangor Hydro Electric Company have unanimously decided that they would like to be represented by IBEW Local 1837 for collective bargaining. These highly-skilled workers are also commonly known as “Dispatchers.”
All of the System Operators at BHE indicated their interest in union representation by signing authorization cards which were subsequently submitted to the National Labor Relations Board. The Union has requested that the Company voluntarily recognize the new bargaining unit and commence negotiations as soon as possible.
"The System Operators... Read More
N.U. Call Center Workers Look to Join IBEW 1837
Customer Service Representatives at the Northeast Utilities Manchester Call Center are making a bid to join IBEW Local 1837, but Company representatives are pulling out the stops to try to thwart the campaign. More than 150 employees at the Center take customer calls for PSNH, Connecticut Light and Power and Western Massachusetts Electric, answering calls about billing and service for the electric utilities owned by N.U.
The Call Center workers have challenging jobs and work long hours, especially during storm restoration. They’ve cited a pattern of unfair, embarrassing and inconsistent... Read More
NH House Bill 1238 Would Force PSNH to Sell Their Generation Assets
February 7, 2012 - IBEW Local 1837 is in complete agreement with PSNH in their opposition to House Bill 1238, a bill that could affect 186 jobs for our members at generation facilities owned by the Company. These are good-paying union jobs, and many other non-union positions could also be impacted. As PSNH indicates in their flier distributed to employees . . .
"As proposed, House Bill 1238 would force PSNH to sell off PSNH Generation plants by December 1, 2013. If approved as proposed, this bill would have far-reaching consequences for the entire state, and could impact the ability for PSNH... Read More
IBEW 1837 Members Speak Out as Attacks on Unions Continue in the Granite State
January 23, 2012 - It’s a new year, but the same old story when it comes to an endless stream of union-busting legislation in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Lawmakers on the House Labor Committee listened to testimony from union members and their allies in opposition to several bills during public hearings on Wednesday, January 19, 2012. One of the bills would outlaw automatic dues deduction for union members and another would eliminate collective bargaining for all public sector workers – a bill even more extreme than what was rammed through in Wisconsin.
IBEW 1837 member and... Read More
Finally, A New Contract for IBEW 1837 Members at WGME-TV
October 21, 2011 - IBEW 1837 members at WGME-TV, channel 13 in Portland have approved a new, 3-year contract after a long and contentious struggle with parent company Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. of Maryland. That struggle led to a national AFL-CIO boycott and the decision by Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates not to advertise on the station during the 2010 primary campaign.
IBEW 1837 and Sinclair management began bargaining early in 2009 and negotiated for more than a year without reaching an agreement. In February of 2010, Sinclair declared that negotiations were “deadlocked” and... Read More
The Current Newsletter - August 2011 "Extra Edition"
The Current is generally mailed to the home addresses of IBEW 1837 members. This "Extra Edition" was only distributed at worksites. You can also download this edition here. Highlights include:
Featuring these headline stories and more:
Summer Break Doesn't Mean End of Struggles at State Houses
IBEW 1837 Elects Officers, E-Board Reps. and Delegates
New Contract for CMP Technical Administrative Unit
Labor's Day Event Schedule for New Hampshire and Maine
The Current Newsletter - Spring/Summer 2011
he Current is mailed to the home addresses of IBEW 1837 members. You can also download this edition here. Highlights include:
 
Featuring these headline stories and more:
OSHA Issues Fines and Citations at Maine Public Service
IBEW 1837 Members Push Back Against Anti-Union Legislation
Talks Underway for "CMP 47" Second Contract
IBEW 1837 Mounts Defense of Members in Arbitration Cases
Contract Ratifications at Granite Ridge and NHEC Warehouse
IBEW 1837 Member Mark Easter Gets Lifesaving Award
September 28, 2011 - In a ceremony attended by many of his co-workers at PSNH as well as company supervisors and officials from IBEW 1837, Mark Easter received the highest award his union offers: The IBEW Lifesaving Award. Brother Easter, an IBEW 1837 member since 1999, is a System Machinist in PSNH’s Generation Division working at the Hooksett Line Area Work Center.
The award stems from Mark’s response to a car crash earlier this year in Manchester, New Hampshire on the morning of February 9. Tom Powers of Merrimack was severely injured on the Amoskeag Bridge after being struck by a car... Read More