About Us

IBEW Union Local 1837 is proud to represent approximately 1,650 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.

Members from several companies attend a Steward training in New Hampshire

Members elect a president, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer and eleven Executive Board members from among the ranks. These members oversee finances and financial decisions of the Local, and oversee the performance of committees within the Local.

The Local is served by six paid staff.

A Business Manager is elected by the membership. The Business Manager and two Assistant Business Managers head negotiation committees at all represented companies, handle higher level grievances, advise and assist stewards, and oversee the daily functioning of the Local.

An Organizer works full time overseeing communications within the Local and outside, editing the newsletter, updating the website, assisting members with union projects, encouraging member involvement with issues the union is pursuing, and working with people who want to join the union.
A full-time office manager and a part-time secretary serve as clerical support to the staff and executive board.

Approximately 160 Stewards handle daily issues in the workplace. Stewards help members understand the contract, help members with grievances when the contract is violated, distribute the quarterly newsletter, and keep union officials and staff informed about issues and conditions in the workplace.

Many interested members also volunteer for union committees and programs. There is an active safety committee at the Local level and some union members participate as union representatives on safety committees at the companies where they work. Members at several companies serve on benefits committees which assist with union research into benefit options for members, interested members serve as union/company liaisons for local United Ways, and members sometimes participate in lobbying legislators or Congress about issues affecting our work lives or our union. Our first website was created by a volunteer, and union volunteers also participate in area Central Labor Council activities.

NH CLC: Manchester NH Central Labor Council protesting anti-worker legislation NH CLC: Manchester NH Central Labor Council protesting anti-worker legislation

Thirteen unit meetings are held throughout the two states each month. Unit meetings are presided over by members elected by the unit. Members of IBEW Local 1837 can vote for officers in their own units, and are welcome to attend any unit meetings they wish. Among other things, unit meetings are the place where members have opportunities to discuss workplace issues and develop responses to them.

Members discuss a workplace issue during a break at a union training in Maine

Dues for IBEW Local 1837 are 2 hours' wages plus $11.00 per month. Dues money pays for such things as wages for staff; reimbursement for time members take off work for purposes of union business or activity; and programs, trainings and materials to assist union members in maintaining a solid and effective union in their workplaces. Dues changes must be voted on by the Local members for Local dues (the 2 hours' wages) or by delegates elected by the Local members for the National dues (the $11.00).

History of IBEW 1837

The Local, numbered "1837", was formed in 1973, as a result of a merger of several smaller locals from Maine and New Hampshire. It was a time when we all had volunteer "Business Managers" and combining small units allowed the new local to have a budget to support a paid staff. However, the financial goals were not met and a dues change was still needed. Dick Pray was our first Business Manager. When Brother Pray left our local to become an International Representative, he was replaced by Joe Nixon, who had been an Assistant Business Manager at the time. Others in the elected position of Business Manager were, Bob Danderson, Bill Tarallo, Dave Bofinger and now, Cynthia Phinney.

We have grown our Local into a 1,650 member union for Utility and Communication workers throughout Maine and New Hampshire, with our own office, meeting hall, newsletter, a staff of four paid Reps, two office employees, and a 15-member Executive Board. Our Organizing group has been successful in growing our ranks and creating more contract work for the staff.

During the 1990's, at a time when problems arising from Corporate reorganizations of the Companies where IBEW 1837 members worked put a lot of pressure on available union staff resources, members voted to raise dues to hire a second Assistant Business Manager. Our past Assistant Business Managers from both states were Joe Nixon, Bill Burr, Phil Place, Bill Tarallo, Dave Adams, Bob Dodge, Kerry Guptill, Thom Clements, and the positions are currently held by Bill Dunn and Tom Ryan.

In 1998 IBEW 1837 hired its first full-time organizer, Cynthia Phinney. The Organizer position is currently held by Matt Beck.