Demonstrator CMP PortlandMembers of "The 47" at CMP still working to achieve their first contract took to the streets again today, this time in three locations. Allies from the other IBEW bargaining unit at CMP turned out to show their support, as did members of several other unions including the Machinists from Bath Iron Works, IBEW Local 567, IBEW 2327 workers from Verizon, the Maine AFL-CIO, the Newspaper Guild, and the Maine AFL-CIO. Spirited demonstrators walked the line between 6 and 7 before heading to work in Augusta, Portland, and Lewiston.

The Field Technicians and Field Technician Specialists at Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH) have voted to join IBEW Local 1837. 100% of the 35 eligible employees (who are also known as "Writers") participated by mail ballot in the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election. Representatives of the Union and the Company were on hand as the votes were tallied at the NLRB office in Boston on the morning of July 20, 2007.

Lewiston demonstrators support "The 47."Augusta demonstrators greet other workers.As their contract negotiations drag on through another summer, “The 47” were joined by their allies in the Maine labor movement for spirited demonstrations outside Central Maine Power offices in Augusta and Lewiston. As a beautiful July morning dawned, marchers gathered to express their displeasure with CMP’s lack of movement during the bargaining process.

When this new group of 47 workers, many of them professional employees, voted in 2006 to join IBEW Local 1837, CMP insisted that they intended to negotiate an entirely new and separate contract for the new bargaining unit despite the fact that more than 600 CMP employees already belong to IBEW 1837 and have worked under existing collective bargaining agreements for decades.

Tasters in the Chili Cookoff area at the Eastern Maine Labor Council July 4 EventUnion members, their families and allies gathered on July 4 at the Solidarity Center in Brewer to observe Independence Day union style. The traditional chili cookoff formed the basis for a well received meal, along with roasted organic lamb and an array of salads and side dishes including some with ingredients from local farmers who participate in the Union Supported Agriculture program. The Steelworkers took the prize in the chili cookoff for their "Pirate Chili."IBEW 1837 member Bob Toole catches a quiet moment between food and entertainment at the July 4 event.

The crowd was addressed by both Congressman Mike Michaud and Congressman Tom Allen, both of whom also spent time chatting with event attendees.

Music was provided by Shawn Mercer in the earlier part of the evening, and the Toughcats wound out the event leading up to the fireworks. Between music acts, "EFCA" man took the stage in a raucous skit featuring a reporter scaring up stories about injustice at Circuit City, the unworkability of the Verizon Sale, and the misdeeds of the senators from Maine in the vote on

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a Complaint and Notice of Hearing to WGME for engaging in unfair labor practices as a result of a charge by IBEW Local 1837. The charge by the Union was filed on March 19, 2007, after Union Steward Jack Amrock was threatened, intimidated and coerced by WGME management while fulfilling his responsibilities as steward by investigating a possible contract violation. WGME is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. of Hunt Valley, Maryland.

As stated in the NLRB complaint document, the charge stems from the previous September when Brother Amrock, “in his capacity as union steward, engaged in protected concerted activity by investigating and protesting a possible violation of a collective bargaining agreement” and by attending a meeting with WGME management about the possible violation. Shortly thereafter, WGME management issued a threatening memo to Brother Amrock that “intimidated, threatened, and coerced him” in connection with those activities.