Inside IBEW 1837

In a victory for labor unions and workers across Maine, the state legislature has defeated a so-called "Right-to-Work" bill in Augusta. An Act to Prohibit Labor Organizations from Imposing Mandatory Service Fees on Nonmembers (LD 187) aimed to weaken unions by allowing employees to opt out of paying dues while still benefiting from union-negotiated wages, benefits, and protections. Labor leaders warned that this “free rider” model would destabilize union funding and erode the collective power workers need to bargain effectively.

Due to ongoing negotiations with Central Maine Power, we will be holding a combined meetings for Units 6, 7, 8, and 9 via Zoom for February, March, April and May. 

The date, time, and Zoom link will be shared via email prior to the meetings.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to your steward or the Local 1837 office.

The latest drive for “right-to-work” in New Hampshire crashed into the brick wall of the state’s labor movement in February, as the IBEW and fellow unions overcame a huge Republican majority to defeat the bill for the 40th time.

"It was the heaviest lift of my career,” said state AFL-CIO President Glenn Brackett, former business manager of Manchester, N.H., Local 2320. “We started out 44 votes upside-down, and we ended up winning by 20.”

From campaign resources to member participation, Brackett said, the IBEW’s help was invaluable.

Due to upcoming negotiations with Central Maine Power, there will be changes to the unit meeting schedule for the start of 2025.  

Members of IBEW Local 1837 at WGME-TV (CBS 13) gathered near the television station in Portland in early December for an informational picket. The members, which include Photographers, News Producers, Directors, News Editors, Assignment Editors, Operating Technicians, Maintenance Engineers, and Creative Producers, are fighting for better pay and working conditions in their contract negotiations with Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Unit meetings for IBEW Local 1837 are back after a brief break.  Members had voted in late spring or early summer to temporarily suspend their meetings during the traditional summer vacation months. While most begin in September, Units 6 and 7 will start in October.

IBEW Local 1837 member Greg Middleton, a first-class lineworker at Versant Power, has been selected as the 2024 Shop Steward of the Year by a special committee at the Maine AFL-CIO. Middleton received his award at the upcoming COPE Convention Awards Banquet on Thursday, June 27, in Auburn. He was nominated for the award by members of IBEW Local 1837.

Following a vote by the members, unit meetings in IBEW Local 1837 are temporarily suspended for the 2024 summer season.  

To see the Summer 2024 Schedule: click here

IBEW Local 1837 members at Versant ratified a 3-year collective bargaining agreement in early July after federal mediation was brought in to help the Union and the Company bridge remaining gaps during negotiations. The contract includes significant improvements to wages, benefits, working conditions, and a key victory in protecting job security.

All classifications will see general wage increases of 4% in 2025, 3% in 2026, and 3% in 2027. In addition, several positions will see market adjustments.

There’s a familiar and friendly face serving constituents in Augusta. South Portland voters elected IBEW Local 1837 member Matthew Beck to represent them in the Maine House of Representatives for District 122. 

IBEW Local 1837 was honored at the 17th Annual National Labor and Management Public Affairs Committee (LAMPAC) conference in Washington, D.C., for its successful efforts in protecting hundreds of union utility jobs in Maine. 

In March, Assistant Business Manager, Renee Gilman, accepted the Edwin D. Hill Award, on behalf of the union. The award is named after the former IBEW International President who co-founded LAMPAC with the Edison Electrical Institute in 2007.

IBEW Local 1837 members and retirees played a crucial role in defeating the two pieces of harmful, anti-union legislation - one in the New Hampshire House and one in the New Hampshire Senate.

In March, mental health professionals at Seacoast Mental Health voted in favor of representation by IBEW Local 1837.

The vote, with a decisive count of 13 to 2, signals a strong desire among these professionals for fair treatment and collective advocacy in their workplace.  The therapists at Seacoast Mental Health play a crucial role in providing mental health services to residents of the eastern half of Rockingham County, New Hampshire. 

Three members of IBEW Local 1837 at WGME in Portland have been nominated for a New England Emmy Award in the category of "Best Newscast (Small Market)."

The nominations recognize the outstanding journalism work of News Producer and Steward Alison Murtagh, Chief News Producer Ted Homer, and Director Ethan Crooker, following the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston last October.