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International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1837 is proud to represent approximately 1,450 working men and women all over Maine and New Hampshire. Most of our members work at electric utilities or broadcasting stations throughout the two states. We work at companies such as Central Maine Power, Public Service of New Hampshire, and WGME-TV 13, just to name a few!

IBEW Union Local 1837 maintains two offices to better serve our members—one in Manchester, Maine and the other in Dover, New Hampshire. The office in Maine includes a separate building with a conference room and meeting area for union programs and training sessions.

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IBEW 1837 Members Speak Out as Attacks on Unions Continue in the Granite State

IBEW 1837's Bob Bundy testifies before NH House Labor Committee.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 PSNH employee Bob Bundy gave testimony in opposition to HB 1163, a bill to outlaw union dues deduction. "HB 1163 in an unabashed attempt to undermine the unions that are the standard bearer of the working class," Brother Bundy said. The Merrimack Station control room operator used one of his remaining vacation days to be in Concord for the hearings. He is set to retire from PSNH next month.

A Tragic Loss

We lost an IBEW Brother on Monday, January 16, 2012.

John R. Plante from Oakland, Maine was killed just before 4:00 p.m. when he fell about 55 feet from a pole on Boom Road in Saco. Brother Plant, 44, was a member of IBEW Local 104 working for New York-based Hawkeye, LLC. Although an OSHA investigation has not been completed, Saco Police said that it appeared that all required safety equipment was being used.

While it is still too soon to understand what went so terribly wrong, we must use this solemn occasion to remind ourselves of the inherent danger in the jobs that we do on daily basis.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to John Plante’s family, friends, and all of his Brothers and Sisters at IBEW Local 104.

In solidarity,
Dick Rogers
Business Manager, IBEW Local 1837
 

Finally, A New Contract for IBEW 1837 Members at WGME-TV

Chief Steward Jack Amrock and IBEW B.M. Dick Rogers review agreement.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 began unilaterally implementing parts of its last contract offer. The company cut pay by as much as 10 percent for most of the 40 broadcast professionals who work behind the scenes at the station and are represented by IBEW Local Union 1837.

The workers protested and contacted community and political allies for support. When IBEW and the Maine AFL-CIO asked all Democratic, Republican and Independent gubernatorial candidates to refrain from advertising on WGME-TV as a show of solidarity, the Democratic candidates agreed, prompting the station to lash out at the candidates in an extraordinary editorial broadcast.