Labor News

In Support of IBEW Workers at WGME 13, Democratic Candidates for Governor Refuse to Buy Campaign Ads on the TV Station

WGME studios in Portland, MaineApril 22, 2010 - All of the Democratic candidates in June’s gubernatorial primary have decided not to purchase political campaign advertising on WGME, channel 13 in Portland, to demonstrate their support for workers at the television station.

The refusal of Pat McGowan, Libby Mitchell, John Richardson, Steve Rowe, and Rosa Scarcelli to buy ads on the station is in response to a request from the union representing more than 40 workers at the station. That request came after WGME-TV and Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., of Maryland, unilaterally declared an impasse in contract talks, cut wages, and implemented parts of their last contract offer that forced concessions on the workers.

Broadcast stations look forward to the political season and the campaign ads that help boost their bottom lines. While the full financial impact of the candidates’ decision is difficult to estimate, it is likely to lead to the loss of tens of thousands of dollars in ad revenue for the local CBS affiliate.

Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Mary Erin Casale expressed her approval of the move. “The Maine Democratic Party is proud to support the workers of IBEW Local 1837 and applauds all of our gubernatorial primary candidates in supporting this cause. We encourage all parties involved to reach a fair collective bargaining agreement as soon as possible,” Casale said.

IBEW 1837 Reaches Tentative Agreement for New Contract at CMP

Members of the Union Negotiating Team last May.February 22, 2010 - The Union Negotiating Team at Central Maine Power has reached a tentative agreement for a contract for 650 workers at Maine’s largest utility. Prior to negotiations on Thursday, February 15, it had been nearly six months since the last bargaining session between the parties. During that time, three other Iberdrola USA companies settled contracts with their respective unions.

Those contracts were better deals than CMP had offered to their workers represented by IBEW Local 1837. For their employees in Maine, the Company was willing to meet a few of the inequities between the contracts by offering the same annual across the board wage increases in each year of the contract and the same company match on the 401(k) plan for new hires in lieu of a defined benefit retirement plan. However, CMP was unwilling to move on their controversial demand to cap the post-retirement medical coverage benefit.

Maine PUC Approves AMI System at CMP; 141 Jobs Will Be Lost – Many IBEW 1837 Members

Asst. B.M. Bill Dunn testifying at the PUC public hearing on January 20.February 1, 2010 - The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will be issuing an order for Central Maine Power Company to move forward with their Smart Grid Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) initiative. The PUC held deliberations on the AMI case on February 1, and all three commissioners agreed that CMP had done a good job at working toward and achieving 50% of the funding for their proposed system through a federal stimulus grant. The commissioners believe that the system will produce benefits for customers that will outweigh the costs. The installation of so-called “smart meters” will lead to steep job cuts at CMP.

The Commissioners acknowledged that the installation of the system will create a long road for the affected employees. They said they appreciated the testimony from the public hearing on January 20 and that the testimony raised several concerns regarding the effects of the system on employees. Commissioner Cashman strongly urged that CMP negotiate with the Union over those effects. Commissioner Vafiades and Chairperson Reishus agreed that CMP should give fair treatment to the employees and also have a reporting requirement to submit a workforce reduction plan to the Commission prior to any plan taking place. Assistant Business Manager Bill Dunn scheduled negotiations with CMP on February 19 to discuss the impact on employees.

141 Jobs at CMP on the Line at PUC Hearing

Power restoration after major storms could be affected if 141 CMP workers are laid off.January 15, 2010 - The Maine Public Utilities Commission is set to hold a crucial public hearing on Wednesday, January 20 at 5:30 p.m. that may well determine the fate of 141 workers at Central Maine Power Company and have an impact of CMP’s customers for years to come.

Union members and their allies are being encouraged to turnout to show support for union workers at Central Maine Power. The hearing will be held at the PUC offices at 101 Second St., Hallowell, Maine.

The PUC appears ready to approve an Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) System - built with $96 million in federal stimulus funds - that will eliminate 141 jobs at CMP. Many of these workers have jobs as meter readers and most are members of IBEW Local 1837.

While the installation of so-called “smart meters” may have some benefits for CMP ratepayers, other services could be adversely impacted and some of the future costs of the AMI System are unknown. One thing is clear: these workers threatened with layoffs provide important services and tremendous value to CMP customers and their loss could impact electric service and reliability in numerous ways.

IBEW and NHEC Reach Agreement on Terms of Upcoming Layoff

IBEW 1837 Assistant Business Manager Tom RyanDecember 8, 2009 – International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 1837 and the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) have reached an agreement on the Company’s forthcoming layoff, thereby averting a looming court fight. The Union withdrew their application for a temporary injunction in the U.S. District Court in Concord, New Hampshire. The Union had been asking the court to intervene in this matter because they felt that NHEC might fail to comply with specific provisions of the union contract that require it to prove the necessity for such action and to fully exhaust other alternatives prior to the layoffs.

IBEW and NHEC reached agreement that all Union members will be required to take an unpaid 10-day furlough in 2010 and an additional unpaid 10-day furlough in 2011. As a result, NHEC will retain three union members who were slated to be laid off. However, there will still be a layoff of five IBEW members out of a total of 91 unionized NHEC employees. That number equates to just under 7% of the total union workforce.

AMI System at CMP Could Lead to IBEW Job Losses

CMP Meter-Reader at work.November 5, 2009 - Jobs in the Meter Department at Central Maine Power Company will be affected by the Company’s plans to begin installing an Automated Metering Infrastructure system, or AMI. CMP learned on October 27 that they will receive a $95.9 million federal grant from the Energy Department to install smart meters for its 600,000 customers. CMP is one of 100 companies in 49 states receiving a total of $3.4 billion to help fund similar projects.

IBEW 1837 Delegation Brings CMP Struggle to the 2009 Maine AFL-CIO Convention

Asst. Business Manager Bill Dunn asks a question during gubernatorial candidates forum.October 23, 2009 - IBEW’s effort to reach a fair contract agreement with CMP was center stage at the Maine AFL-CIO Biennial Convention in Bangor on October 22 & 23. Over 125 delegates and union leaders – representing 60 local unions and union councils from York to Fort Kent – voiced their support for IBEW’s struggle and six major gubernatorial candidates were also asked to stand with workers at CMP.
 
A 90-minute forum of candidates for Governor was held on the first day of the convention. It included State Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, former Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe, Thom Rhoads on behalf of Rosa Scarcelli, Donna Dion, State Senator Peter Mills and Lynne Williams. The gubernatorial hopefuls were briefed on the status of the contract talks, CMP’s profitability, and the union’s fight to preserve retirement healthcare benefits. All six candidates left the convention with a much greater understanding of the issues and some of them offered commitments to work with IBEW to try to get CMP to make a fair contract offer to their workers.

IBEW 1837 Members Ratify New Contract at Maine Public Service

IBEW 1837 Negotiating Team at Maine Public Service

October 1, 2009 - IBEW 1837 members at Maine Public Service have ratified a new four-year contract that includes a 3.25% pay increase in each year of the agreement. The agreement also includes improvements in stand-by pay, improved vacation credit for long-term employees and a switch to the New England Electrical Workers Benefit Fund for health insurance and related benefits.

CMP Workers Discuss Concerns and Union Strategies at Gardiner Meeting

IBEW members at CMP attend informational meeting in Gardiner on September 22, 2009.

September 22, 2009 - IBEW members at Central Maine Power Company gathered in the Gardiner Area High School Gymnasium on Tuesday, September 22 to discuss our options and provide feedback to the Union Negotiating Team. Many of the approximately 150 members on hand offered their candid opinions about the Union’s efforts to get a fair contract for everyone in this – the largest bargaining unit at IBEW Local 1837. Throughout the meeting, brothers and sisters with widely diverging views remained polite and respectful of one another.
 
IBEW 1837 Assistant Business Manager Bill Dunn reviewed the status of several unfair labor practice charges that the Union filed with the National Labor Relations Board. Although the NLRB filed a complaint against the Company on one of the charges, they dismissed several others. IBEW 1837 is challenging those dismissals with the NLRB in Washington, D.C.
 

IBEW Members at CMP Urged to Attend New Informational Meeting

CMP Negotiating Committee briefs members on Company proposal at Gardiner meeting on May 20, 2009.

September 4, 2009 - The Union Negotiating Committee at Central Maine Power Company has scheduled an informational meeting for Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the Gardiner Area High School. When the meeting is held in late September, the members of this bargaining unit will have been working without a contract for more than four months.

“This meeting is for us to share our thoughts and to thoroughly discuss the most recent final offer from the Company,” said Bill Dunn, the IBEW Assistant Business Manager who heads up the committee. “It will be vitally important for all members to attend and participate in the discussions.”