Making a point in Portland.

July 1, 2009 - With the Independence Day holiday weekend looming, hundreds of Central Maine Power Company workers and union allies participated in rallies and informational demonstrations near CMP facilities in at least ten Maine towns and cities, including Alfred, Augusta, Bridgton, Brunswick, Fairfield, Farmington, Lewiston, Portland, Rockland and Rumford. The demonstrations were to call the public's attention to CMP's unwillingness to offer more than 650 workers at the electric utility a fair contract. The bargaining unit has been working without a contract since mid-May.

In spite of making a $55 million dollar profit last year and offering their top executives lavish compensation packages, CMP seeks to make cuts to their retiree medical plan and retirement plan for new hires. Occasionally chanting "Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Corporate Greed has Got to Go!" while participating in at least one demonstration, CMP workers were buoyed by the support of workers from MSEA-SEIU, USW, IATSE, AFSCME, CWA, AFGE, UAW, other local labor unions and Central Labor Councils.

Declare Independence from Central Maine Power’s Corporate Greed!

Central Maine Power Company made a $55 million profit last year, but still wants to cut healthcare and retirement benefits for their workers. Help us get a fair contract and stand up to corporate greed! This Wednesday, July 1 at 3:45 p.m.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THESE IMPORTANT PRE-HOLIDAY RALLIES NEAR THE CMP FACILITIES LISTED BELOW!
 

June 19, 2009 - The ten-member unit at Sea-3 a bulk Liquid Propane Storage facility located on the Piscataqua River in Newington, New Hampshire and a subsidiary of Transamonia Inc ratified a four-year contract on June 11, 2009.

Highlights of the Contract include a 6% wage adjustment July 1, 2009 and another 7% adjustment July 1, 2011, an increase in the Sunday shift premium of $.60/hr in 2009 and 2011, and an enhancement of the pension plan to prorate the employer contribution to the plan to reflect all time worked in the last year of employment prior to retirement. Imfprovements were also made in the members’ ability to schedule vacations, personal days and shift swaps.

June 19, 2009 - We were disappointed to read the update from Sara Burns that was distributed to Central Maine Power Company employees on Thursday, June 18. It was worded in a way that seems to be designed to mislead IBEW members about the Union Negotiating Committee’s most recent counter-proposal.

Let us be clear. The Union counter-proposal on Wednesday, June 17 represented significant movement by the Union in the Company’s direction. 

Sara’s email deceptively implied that the Union’s counter proposal increased the Union’s demands.

Sara states that we proposed “additional wage increases."

• FACT: The Union did not propose a penny increase from our last proposal.

Sara states that we proposed “higher prescription drug costs."

• FACT: The Union did not propose a penny increase in prescription drug costs from our last proposal.

Sara states we proposed “changes to the cash balance pension plan.”

• FACT:  The Union did not propose a penny increase in the pension plan from our last proposal.

Sara states we proposed “major modifications to the cost-sharing for retirement medical plans.”

• FACT: the Union's proposal was to reduce the Company’s cost by 2.5% and to increase the cost to retirees by 33% from our last proposal.

Sara states we proposed “changes to the 401(k) proposal for new hires.”

• FACT: the Union did not propose a penny increase in the 401(k) from our last proposal.  We actually proposed a 1% decrease from our last proposal.

CMP says we are at impasse. This is not true. The Union Negotiating Committee is committed to making additional proposals, having additional negotiations with the Company and hopes to be able to resolve this dispute at the bargaining table. The Committee is also acutely aware of the 70% strike authorization vote which remains in effect.  

June 18, 2009 - The IBEW 1837 Negotiating Committee met with the Company on Wednesday, June 17 and presented a counter-proposal to Central Maine Power Company’s last offer of May 15. The Union considers the Company’s medical cap proposal to be a grave threat to the retiree healthcare benefits of all IBEW members at CMP. In addition, the Company’s 401(k) proposal for new hires could devastate the financial security of the next generation of CMP workers. By casting a divide between new hires and current employees, that proposal presents a serious danger to the future benefits of all IBEW members at CMP.
 
The latest counter-proposal from the IBEW 1837 Negotiating Committee included changes to the cost-sharing methodology for retiree medical coverage similar to the methodology used with the active employee medical cost sharing. It also included a fixed Company contribution level into the 401(k) plan for new hires independent of an employee’s contributions. The Company considered the Union counter-proposal for an extended time. After approximately five hours, the Federal Mediator told us that the Company still would not move on their last offer.
 
The Union Negotiating Committee will be meeting Thursday evening, June 18 to consider how to respond. As has been stated several times, despite strong membership authorization should it become necessary, no one’s goal is a strike. Our only goal is a fair contract.