WGME Director Golfs in Maine Amateur Championship
Ryan Jackson's passion for golf is no secret among his fellow employees at WGME-TV in Portland, Maine.
When he's not in the control room coding and directing live broadcasts, you can bet he's out playing 18 holes at Riverside, a golf course near the station.
Jackson joined IBEW Local 1837 over six years ago when he joined the WGME-TV newsroom as an editor. He worked his way up to the challenging role of directing newscasts—a very technical and highly skilled job. While he excels in directing, his love for golf is unparalleled. Almost daily, and regardless of the weather, he sets foot on the... Read More
Lewis Tree Workers Win First Contract
Twelve skilled workers at Lewis Tree in New Hampshire voted to accept their first contract in late-September 2023.
These employees won their union with IBEW Local 1837 back in January 2023 after expressing their dissatisfaction with the lack of benefits and fair pay being offered, especially when compared to other unionized units within the company.
The newly ratified contract includes an immediate 2.5% pay raise, followed by 3% raises in both 2024 and 2025.
While this is just the first contract, there is optimism about its potential for improvement over time. As we welcome these new union... Read More
Black Bear Hydro Members Approve 5-Year Contract
IBEW Local 1837 members at Black Bear Hydro have unanimously ratified a 5-year contract, which includes a $5,000 signing bonus, increased wages, and other enhanced benefits.
In addition to the signing bonus, the contract features progressive pay increases over the next five years as follows:
- A 6% increase in 2023
- A 5% increase in 2024
- A 3.5% increase in 2025
- A 3.5% increase in 2026
- A 5% increase in 2027
The new contract addresses callouts and overtime, ensuring appropriate compensation. Employees called out after hours, who can resolve the issue over the phone, will receive 2 hours... Read More
Unit meetings to resume this Fall
After a brief break for the summer, unit meetings are resuming for the fall months.  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, a few will start in October.
There are eleven-unit meetings held each month throughout New Hampshire and Maine for our members to attend.
Many of these meetings will continue to be held at their regular times and locations, but there are a few changes:

Unit 3, Laconia will resume in September, and will now be held at 4:00 p.m. and... Read More
Matt Beck Honored with Lifetime Labor Hero Award
Matt Beck, an IBEW Local 1837 member who recently retired from his role as a business representative and organizer, was honored with the Lifetime Working Class Hero Award by the Southern Maine Labor Council during the group’s Labor Day Breakfast on Monday, September 4th, 2023. Beck's commitment to labor causes and unwavering support for workers' rights earned him this respected recognition.
For decades, Beck actively championed fair wages, safe working conditions, and the importance of unions in protecting workers. His commitment went beyond rhetoric; he was a visible presence at... Read More
IBEW Local 1837 Welcomes Kaitlyn Hegarty as New Business Rep.
IBEW Local 1837 has appointed Kaitlyn Hegarty as its new Business Representative. Hegarty brings extensive experience in the media industry, having been a union member since 2011 when she joined WGME CBS 13 in Portland, Maine and served as a shop steward at the station.
With over a decade of experience in the broadcasting business, Hegarty worked as an award-winning Chief News Producer, contributing to thousands of live newscasts, breaking news events, and investigative stories. Her leadership in the newsroom made her a go-to person for co-workers' concerns.
During her tenure at WGME, Hegarty... Read More
Summer Suspension of Unit Meetings with Exceptions for Units 10 and 11
Following a vote by the members, several unit meetings in IBEW Local 1837 are temporarily suspended for the 2023 summer season.  However, please note Units 10 and 11 will continue to hold a combined meeting on the third Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. over Zoom.
To see the Summer 2023 Schedule: click here
While this temporary suspension is in effect, we want to assure you we remain committed to maintaining open lines of communication and meeting the needs of all our members. For members belonging to other units, we invite you to join the Unit 10/11 meeting via Zoom. The meeting link... Read More
NH AFL-CIO Offers Linda Horan Scholarship Program to Support Education
The New Hampshire AFL-CIO has announced it will offer the Linda Horan Scholarship Program for the 2023-2024 academic year. This program aims to address the rising costs of higher education while honoring the memory of Sister Linda Horan, a dedicated member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and former Chair of the Scholarship Committee. Sister Linda, who battled cancer and passed away in 2016, had a profound commitment to supporting the next generation and creating opportunities for their educational pursuits.
Click here for an application
To help deserving students... Read More
Local 1837 Elects Candidates for Leadership Roles
In accordance with the laws of the United States, the Constitution of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the Bylaws of Local 1837, the nomination process has concluded. Since only one member was nominated for each office, there were no contested positions that required a balloted election. 
The decision to elect the candidates was made at a Local Union 1837 Executive Board meeting held on Friday, May 19th, 2023. Following a motion, a second, and a unanimous vote, the Executive Board approved the election of the candidates. A swearing-in ceremony will take... Read More
Union Sportsmen's Alliance to host inaugural dinner in New Hampshire
The Union Sportsmen's Alliance, a rapidly growing non-profit conservation organization dedicated to uniting the union community in preserving North America's outdoor heritage, is hosting its inaugural New Hampshire BCTC Conservation Dinner this June. This event provides individuals and organizations with an opportunity to actively protect natural resources, build sustainable environments, and showcase the positive contributions of labor unions. 
The Conservation Dinner will be held on Friday, June 9th, starting at 6:00 p.m. at IBEW Local 490, located at 48 Airport Road in Concord, New... Read More