Union Members Played Key Role in NH "Right to Work" Battle

Hundreds of Union members turned out to line the streets outside the NH Sportsplex in Bedford the morning of the final House vote.

June 4, 2021 - In a tremendous victory for working people and their unions in the Granite State, the New Hampshire House of Representatives soundly defeated “Right to Work” legislation on Thursday,  June 3, by a vote of 199-175. That was followed by a 197-178 vote to indefinitely postpone the bill, effectively killing it until at least 2023. The morning of the vote, hundreds of Union members carrying “Vote No” signs lined the streets leading to the NH Sportsplex in Bedford where the session was held.
“This legislative victory was only possible because of the great work done by members of... Read More
IBEW 1837 Delegates to 40th Int'l Convention Selected
May 15, 2021 - The following members of IBEW Local #1837 have been nominated and selected to serve as delegates to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker's 40th International Convention in Chicago:  IBEW 1837 Business Manager Tony Sapienza, IBEW 1837 President Michelle Crocker, IBEW 1837 Organizer/Business Representative Matt Beck, IBEW 1837 Vice President Bob Mc Neff, Kitty Kilroy, and Bill Tarallo. Since the number of nominees was equal to the number of delegates for our Local, there will not be an election held for those seats.
The 40th International Convention was... Read More
IBEW 1837 Members at CMP Ratify New 4-Year Contract
May 5, 2021 - IBEW members working at Central Maine Power voted to approve a new collective bargaining agreement with guaranteed wage increases and annual bonus payments, and without significant concessions of any kind. Voting took place at 15 different locations throughout the state on Wednesday, May 5th. The contract takes effect immediately and runs through April 30, 2025.
“The ratification of the new 4-year contract agreement with Central Maine Power is a significant step in the right direction for our members and for Maine’s largest electric utility,” said IBEW 1837 Business Manager Tony... Read More
Workers Speak Out Against NH "Right to Work" Bill
March 25, 2021 - At a hearing of the New Hampshire House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee, the overwhelming majority of people testified in opposition to the so-called “Right to Work” bill. Elected union leaders were joined by rank-and-file union members in urging committee members to vote “Inexpedient to Legislate” on the union-busting bill, SB 61. Similar bills have been considered dozens of times in the State Legislature and have always failed to become law.
 
“The only purpose of this bill is to increase corporate power at the expense of working people,” IBEW... Read More
IBEW 1837 Joins Effort to Save Brookfield Dams on the Kennebec River
March 16, 2021 - A proposal to amend the state’s Kennebec River Management Plan would remove at least two and eventually as many as four dams where IBEW 1837 members work generating electricity. The dams are owned by Brookfield Renewable Partners.
 
Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) said removing the Lockwood Dam in Waterville and the Shawmut Dam in Fairfield would allow endangered Atlantic salmon to move upriver to spawn and create new recreational opportunities and economic development. But others noted that removal of the dams would negatively impact recreational... Read More
Frontline Workers at CMP Insulted by Low Company Bonus
March 10, 2021 - Workers at Central Maine Power Company (CMP) are angry and disappointed by the decision of company officials to give an unusually low 1.4% annual bonus to their non-management employees. At the same time, CMP managers will receive a bonus payout of 8 – 9% of their annual pay.
 
As we reach the one-year anniversary of the pandemic, CMP’s lineworkers, clerks, dispatchers, customer service representatives and other unionized employees have continued doing their vitally important jobs providing electricity to Maine families and businesses. In the past year, more than 20... Read More
Working Families in NH Face Another Attack on Their Unions

February 9, 2021 - Anti-union politicians in Concord and out-of-state special interest groups are back at it again. They’re trying to cut wages and benefits for union members by supporting more deceptively titled “Right to Work” legislation, Senate Bill 61.
Right to Work should be called “Right to Work for Less!” It doesn’t create any jobs or give anybody rights. It simply undermines the ability of working people to join together in strong unions by attacking their unions’ financial health. When unions are undermined in this way, wages, benefits and safety for workers all suffer as a result... Read More
IBEW 1837 Supports Maine Med RNs’ Effort to Form Union
February 8, 2021 - A union organizing campaign by registered nurses at Maine’s largest hospital has captured the attention of union members and hospital patients throughout Northern New England. It also has earned a rare public endorsement from IBEW Local Union #1837.
 
“We’re proud to stand with the registered nurses at Maine Medical Center as they join together to form their union,” said Michelle Crocker, President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #1837. “Our local union E-Board, made up entirely of rank-and-file union members from our represented companies... Read More
Kittery Water District Workers Ratify "First Contract" with IBEW
December 30, 2020 - At least one good thing has come out of a very bad year: Workers at the Kittery Water District have overwhelmingly ratified their first contract with IBEW Local #1837. The 15 workers at the water utility include office staff, filtration plant workers, laborers, meter readers, service technicians and others.
“We’re grateful to negotiating team members Linda Johnson, Matthew Crosby, and Brandon Woods for the time and effort they put into making this a good first contract,” said IBEW 1837 Organizer and Business Representative Matt Beck. “The contract guarantees that they will... Read More
Unit Meetings Schedule Revised and Some Locations Changed Due to COVID-19
November 10, 2020 - The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the relocation, postponement or cancellation of some meetings. Please contact your steward, the union office, or log on to www.ibew1837.org before driving.
IBEW 1837 is exploring other options for Units that have lost their meeting locations. Union staff is available to meet on an as-needed basis where meetings are cancelled. Please wear a mask when meeting at indoor locations.
You can download and print an updated schedule here.
Unit 1, Dover: Fourth Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Comfort Inn & Suites, #10 Hotel Drive, Dover NH... Read More