Rainy weather and short notice wasn't enough to stop twenty-plus IBEW members from turning out to picket the CMP annual meeting on May 21. Although the circumstances could have caused these workers to blame each other for their situation, they decided to band together and point their fingers at the company who is pulling the strings.
According to Bob Ward of Local 104, "We wanted to bring our situation to the attention of the stockholders – to have our side heard."
The situation Ward is referring to has apparently been brewing for some time. Ward explains that CMP Group, through it's... Read More
February 12, 2014 - IBEW Local 1837 and Central Maine Power have reached a landmark two-year settlement agreement that creates new union positions, sets base line staffing levels in each of the classification groupings, provides certain protections against layoffs, and creates new overtime opportunities in areas that are using DLI contractors. This wide-ranging agreement suspends a pending arbitration case over CMP’s use of contractors while preserving the Union’s right to grieve and arbitrate the present and future use of them.
“It took hard work and good faith on both sides of the table to... Read More
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.
 “It has been quite a process over the last eight months but I'm excited that the committee was able to negotiate an acceptable first contract,” said Joe Giuffrida, a Customer Service Representative and member of the Union... Read More

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.
NextEra owns the oil-fired Wyman Station in Yarmouth and the much smaller oil-fired Cape Energy in South Portland. Both plants, which run primarily during times of peak demand for electricity, were put up for sale earlier this year. They are the only remaining NextEra facilities in Maine.
The approved contract extension includes a general wage increase of 3%, a signing bonus,... Read More
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.
"I want to thank Building Mechanic Tom Eaton for all the good work he did on this contract and his willingness to also step up and become a Shop Steward," IBEW 1837 Assistant Business Manager Tom Ryan said. "It's a good first agreement for these workers, especially since they will be getting the... Read More
November 22, 2013 - IBEW Local #1837 has announced a final agreement between the Union and Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners officials on the company’s reorganization plans and a 4-year extension of the parties’ Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Early in September, Brookfield notified the Union of their intention to eliminate 21 out of a total of 51 positions at the hydroelectric dams they acquired from NextEra Energy Resources LLC late last year.
IBEW 1837 Assistant Business Manager Bill Dunn was joined by Chief Steward Ed Goodale and IBEW 1837 Business Manager Dick Rogers for... Read More
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.
Union and LWL negotiators agreed to meet in the future if necessary to discuss any cost increases related to the Affordable Care Act (frequently referred to as "Obamacare"). Another change in the contract will require members to submit a receipt if they want... Read More
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.
Kris was an outstanding Lineworker for the New Hamsphire Electric Cooperative, having worked there for nearly 20 years before illnesses and an accident forced him to leave work. Funeral arrangements may be found in the obituary in a local newspaper http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/unionleader/obituary.aspx?pid=167447328....
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Brother Jacobson's family and friends at this difficult 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.
“I’m pleased that the overall contract is better in virtually every way... Read More