CMP negotiation

[CPOPE]

By Shlomit Auciello The Herald Gazette Reporter

ROCKLAND (July 2): About a dozen Central Maine Power employees who are dissatisfied with the progress of current contract negotiations stood on Park Street (Route 1) in Rockland Wednesday afternoon in what they referred to as an educational picket line.

The rally was one of nine held throughout the state, according to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Web site.

A handout given to interested passersby stated: "In 2008 CMP sent $55 million in profits to Ibedrola Company, the new Spanish owner of CMP." Central Maine Power workers held what they called an educational picket line on Wednesday to let customers know they are not satisfied with the way current contract negotiations are going. Pictured in the foreground are line workers Josh Shanholtzer of Jefferson, left, and Ken Wilson of Warren. (Photo by Shlomit Auciello)

Ken Wilson of Warren is a line worker for CMP. He said contract negotiations have been stalled since the end of April. "We've been working for the last two months without a contract," Wilson said.

According to Richard Leach of Lincolnville, a service worker for the power utility, CMP wants to exclude any new hires from certain benefits who are currently part of the compensation that CMP workers receive. Leach said the company wants to stop providing pensions and health care benefits for anyone who would be hired under the new contract.

According to Debbie Owen, office manager at IBEW local 1837, Leach is a steward of the union. "It was an informational demonstration by union members at several different CMP locations," Owen said of Wednesday's action.

Leach said CMP wants to change the formula that determines what each employee pays for health insurance. "Our insurance would probably triple in the next three to five years, like everybody else," Leach said.

Service worker Richard Leach of Lincolnville was one of about a dozen Central Maine Power employees picketing on the side of Route 1 in Rockland on Wednesday. (Photo by Shlomit Auciello)


The company responded last month with a June 4 statement that is posted at the CMP Web site. It said it "is committed to treating our employees fairly and providing safe, reliable, affordable electric service to our customers. We focus on every cost, because we know our customers do, too. Our challenge is to balance what we can offer employees with what customers can afford."

CMP said its work force was skilled and knowledgeable and worked long hours, "and our customers want them to be paid well for it. We agree. In 2008, our first-class line workers earned an average of $74,000 plus the value in their benefits. It’s our intent to continue providing job security, good wages, and generous health and retirement benefits in a new contract."

"We also recognize that these are extraordinary times for our customers," CMP said. "Nearly 20,000 Maine jobs disappeared in the past year, and state unemployment is approaching 8 percent. Businesses are closing; employees are being furloughed or laid off. Maine is facing a long-term adjustment in our economy that affects everyone."

On Wednesday afternoon in Rockland, workers were passing out a single-page leaflet that said CMP President Sarah Burns receives a salary of $300,000 plus an estimated $2 million in bonuses. Four vice presidents were also listed on the handout, with annual salaries averaging just under $150,000 each. The handout said executive bonuses were rumored to be three to six times the amount of salaries, but the company is not required to report those figures.

Currently, Wilson said, the company provides stipends to employees to help defray the cost of health insurance. He said these would be eliminated if the new contract were approved.

Picketers were asking members of the public to contact CMP at 800-750-4000 and Maine's Public Utilities Commission at 287-3831 to express their concern.

"We're loyal and we really like our customers," Leach said. "This is about corporate greed on the workers' backs."

CMP said in its June 4 statement that on May 15, the company proposed a fair offer to the IBEW leadership, including:

A five-year agreement on wages and benefits.

Guaranteed annual wage increases of 2.5 percent to 3 percent.

Company paid medical benefits of 80 percent for insurance for employees and their families.

A pension plan and 401(k) plan with a company match for current employees.

Continued medical insurance benefits for current employees when they retire.

An enhanced 401(k) with a company match for new employees in place of a defined-benefit pension.
CMP is a subsidiary of Energy East Corporation, and operates more than 25,000 miles of power lines and other facilities that deliver electricity to 80 percent of Maine’s population, according to the company. Energy East Corporation is a regional energy services and delivery company serving about three million customers throughout upstate New York and New England.

According to the IBEW Web site, its negotiating committee met on June 17 with CMP, presenting a counter-proposal to the company's May 15 offer. After five hours, the mediator told the union that CMP would not move on the offer, according to the IBEW.

[climbing high]

As a uniom brother on strike at local 459. I wish you guys the best! Stick together and you will win! By the way what does cmp stand for.? Cant manage piss? best of luck men!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snatch1]

CMP stands for Central Maine Power which is part of the Energy East Group, Which is owned by Iberdrola, a Spanish company. Big Corporate greed! We are local 1837

[CPOPE]

BENTON -- Working without a contract, Central Maine Power Co. union employees plan a demonstration Tuesday outside the town office, before the company's meeting with the Planning Board regarding its plans to build a higher-voltage power line and a $59 million substation.
Bill Dunn, assistant business manager for IBEW Local 1837 Employees Union, said Friday that he hopes to have employees outside the town office by 6 p.m. The union represents about 650 CMP employees; Dunn did not know how many employees would show up in Benton Tuesday.

The planning board meets with CMP officials at 7, with no vote planned.

There are protest signs in the area, including one on the corner of Western Avenue and U.S. Route 201 in Fairfield.

Dunn said that the union is not necessarily opposed to the new line and substation.

"But we don't see how they can spend that much money on that project, and still cut benefits for employees," he said.

CMP employees have been without a contract since May 15, and negotiations have been ongoing since March, Dunn said.

Dunn said that the company wants to reduce medical benefits for retirees "to the point where it's not possible for them to maintain them." CMP also wants to eliminate the defined benefit pension plan and retiree medical benefits for all new hires, he said.

"The company gave its final offer on May 15, which the membership had rejected," Dunn said. "The members have had strike authorization since early May."

The union reports that CMP sent $55 million in profits last year to its new Spanish owner, Ibedrola.

CMP spokesman John Carroll pointed out that the company has offered a five-year contract with annual raises of between 2.5 and 3.5 percent. CMP will maintain family medical benefits of 80 percent and present employees will maintain their pension and 401(k) benefits, he said.

Carroll said that new employees will be offered an enhanced 401(k) with a "significant match."

Company profits, Carroll said, are beneficial to employees.

"If we didn't have a healthy company, we wouldn't be able to offer the benefits and wages that we do offer," he said.

Sharon Thompson, planning board chairwoman, said that no vote on the CMP application will be taken Tuesday night. A public hearing could be scheduled in August, she said.

Arthur Thompson, the town's code-enforcement officer, said that CMP has applied to build higher-voltage power lines along its transmission lines leading from Clinton. Those lines go from Albion Road across Gogan Road to Route 100, and eventually to Detroit, he said.

"Some are concerned about the electromagnetic field, but there's nothing major for opposition," Thompson said.

CMP hopes to begin construction of its new lines in late winter, Thompson said.

Carroll said that the CMP construction offer will have a positive impact on local taxes, and jobs.

"It's an extremely valuable investment that we're making in that town," he said. "It also will play a critical role in keeping the system reliable. We would hope that's a position the union shares."

[brokenxarm]

Brothers and Sisters, It's imperative that as many of you as possible along with friends, neighbors, and family members show up for the demonstration. You'll be surprised on the impact it will make. We here in the 459 are dealing with a bastard of a company in fe. Company spokespeople will twist, mis-inform, and outright lie to the public as well as their customers. Don't lower yourself to the likes of local 777. They're non-exisitent as far as I'm concerned.

[electriklady]

Has anyone ever mentioned to Mr. Carroll that the employees are a much more valuable investment that should be considered.... as a matter of fact, the employees should be their #1 concern.....as they can upgrade all the equipment that they want and if they dont retain their employees to service and maintain it, it is still the equivalent to "pissin in the wind"

Dam, these companies just dont GET IT. Of all equipment they own, their lines, their subs, their buildings, their vehicles, their corporate jets, they choose to sh*t on the thing that makes all that possible, their most valuable asset, their living breathing assets, their EMPLOYEES. Without them all their "Stuff" would soon turn into piles of dust.

In Solidarity,
Local 459 sister

[mainline]

John Carroll is a dumb shit. Everyone here knows it. He has made more misstatements to the press during storms than you could count on all of your toes and fingers. He has caused us endless problems with the public and yet he keeps his job. Promoting the incompetent, the American way now.

[35kvloadbreak]

I sure envy the pride our brother and sisters in IBEW 459 have after standing up for themselves! You all did the right thing! Now it is our turn. I wish we would make a move 1837! Its time to give Energy Beast an asskickin'!

[loose neutral]

Hey brothers and sisters of local 1837. We here at local 459 are behind you all the way. Our stand created more solidarity than I've ever seen here, not only with us, but other brothers and sisters across the country. All eyes were on us and hopefully we opened some that were closed. First Enemy did the same things that Can't Manage Power is doing, lies upon lies upon lies. Do whatever you can to rally your communities around you. Corporate greed is at the root of all of the problems with our country, it needs to be brought to light and show the customers how it negatively affects them. Put pressure on your legislators that you voted in. Most important is STAY UNITED !!! They will try to break you and get you looking at their side. Don't let that happen !!! Stay the course, be smart, trust in your union leadership, and you can prevail. Maybe this will start a trend that all Americans can benefit from and together we can all take a bite out of corporate greed.

[jrwhd68]

Haven't heard anything for awhile just wondered how the contract talks were going?