Inside IBEW 1837

Nine members of IBEW Local 1837, representing Central Maine Power (CMP), Versant, Unitil, New Hampshire Electric Co-op, and Eversource, spent two days sharpening their skills and building solidarity at the Maine AFL-CIO Labor Summer Institute in Orono on August 13–14, 2025. They were joined by longtime IBEW 1837 members, State Representative Matt Beck of South Portland, and Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney. 

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1837 held an informational picket outside Eversource headquarters on Wednesday, August 13. The demonstration drew attention to stalled negotiations for a first contract covering System Operators in the Electrical System Control Center and the System Operations Center.

A former member of IBEW 1837 was repeatedly denied job opportunities because of a mistake in the federal Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Although he had resolved a past violation, the employer responsible for updating the record never submitted the correction. As a result, the Clearinghouse continued to show an unresolved infraction. Every time a prospective employer ran a background check, it appeared the issue was still active—and he wasn’t hired. Once the record was corrected, he was finally able to return to work.

In early March, Linemen Tom Eaton (Eversource), Donny Palmer (Unitil), Greg Middleton (Versant Power), and Mechanic Wade Jandreau (Versant Power) represented Local 1837 at the IBEW National Safety Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Attending conferences and safety classes equips our members with the latest best practices—knowledge they can share locally to keep everyone safer on the job.

Members of IBEW Local 1837 at WGME-TV ratified a new three-year contract with Sinclair Broadcast Group, ending a difficult and drawn-out bargaining process that included multiple contract extensions, public pickets outside the TV station in Portland, and strong backing from community leaders and fellow union members across the state.

Unit meetings for IBEW Local 1837 are temporarily suspended for summer months following a vote by the members of those respective units. Unit 8 in Augusta, however, will hold its regular June meeting on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. in Manchester, Maine, at the IBEW Local 1837 Office, Conference Room.

Below is each unit’s regular meeting pattern, next dates in September and October 2025, and locations.

Unit 1 (Dover, NH)

In a victory for labor unions and workers across Maine, the state legislature has defeated a so-called "Right-to-Work" bill in Augusta. An Act to Prohibit Labor Organizations from Imposing Mandatory Service Fees on Nonmembers (LD 187) aimed to weaken unions by allowing employees to opt out of paying dues while still benefiting from union-negotiated wages, benefits, and protections. Labor leaders warned that this “free rider” model would destabilize union funding and erode the collective power workers need to bargain effectively.

Due to ongoing negotiations with Central Maine Power, we will be holding a combined meetings for Units 6, 7, 8, and 9 via Zoom for February, March, April and May. 

The date, time, and Zoom link will be shared via email prior to the meetings.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to your steward or the Local 1837 office.

The latest drive for “right-to-work” in New Hampshire crashed into the brick wall of the state’s labor movement in February, as the IBEW and fellow unions overcame a huge Republican majority to defeat the bill for the 40th time.

"It was the heaviest lift of my career,” said state AFL-CIO President Glenn Brackett, former business manager of Manchester, N.H., Local 2320. “We started out 44 votes upside-down, and we ended up winning by 20.”

From campaign resources to member participation, Brackett said, the IBEW’s help was invaluable.

Due to upcoming negotiations with Central Maine Power, there will be changes to the unit meeting schedule for the start of 2025.  

Members of IBEW Local 1837 at WGME-TV (CBS 13) gathered near the television station in Portland in early December for an informational picket. The members, which include Photographers, News Producers, Directors, News Editors, Assignment Editors, Operating Technicians, Maintenance Engineers, and Creative Producers, are fighting for better pay and working conditions in their contract negotiations with Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Unit meetings for IBEW Local 1837 are back after a brief break.  Members had voted in late spring or early summer to temporarily suspend their meetings during the traditional summer vacation months. While most begin in September, Units 6 and 7 will start in October.

IBEW Local 1837 member Greg Middleton, a first-class lineworker at Versant Power, has been selected as the 2024 Shop Steward of the Year by a special committee at the Maine AFL-CIO. Middleton received his award at the upcoming COPE Convention Awards Banquet on Thursday, June 27, in Auburn. He was nominated for the award by members of IBEW Local 1837.

Following a vote by the members, unit meetings in IBEW Local 1837 are temporarily suspended for the 2024 summer season.  

To see the Summer 2024 Schedule: click here