ICYMI: Labor Unions Oppose Government-Controlled Power Proposal

January 13, 2022
Contact: Willy Ritch [email protected] | 207-841-8400

Reporters and editors — The labor unions representing Maine electrical workers came out today formerly opposing the proposal to seize CMP and Versant. Their press release is attached and includes statements from both the local labor unions and the regional vice-president of IBEW. Here’s a sample:

“If the proponents of government power get their way, we will go $13.5 billion in debt to big Wall Street banks to finance their scheme. And that debt gets passed along to everyone in the state through higher electric bills,” said Tim Burgess, Business Manager for IBEW Local 104 in Lewiston, the union that represents construction linemen in Maine.

-Willy Ritch

IBEW PRESS RELEASE BELOW

Maine electrical workers say government takeover of utilities is expensive and risky

Maine local and international unions formally oppose proposal to seize CMP and Versant

Electrical workers across the state represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) today released a statement today opposing a proposed referendum that would require the seizure of the state’s utilities by eminent domain and the formation of a government-controlled power company to replace them.

“Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric from the proponents pushing this proposal. This would be a government takeover of our electric grid and it would put billions of dollars in debt on the electric bills of every CMP and Versant customer in the state,” Mike Monahan, International Vice President IBEW 2nd District said.

“If the proponents of government power get their way, we will go $13.5 billion in debt to big Wall Street banks to finance their scheme. And that debt gets passed along to everyone in the state through higher electric bills,” said Tim Burgess, Business Manager for IBEW Local 104 in Lewiston, the union that represents construction linemen in Maine.

IBEW Local 1837 in Manchester, which represents utility workers at CMP and Versant, joined in issuing statements opposing the proposed takeover.

“We work for privately owned utilities, and we like it that way,” said Tony Sapienza, Business Manager for 1837. “Labor sits across the table from these companies when we negotiate what’s best for our members and what we believe is best for the customers. At the end of the day, we have a good relationship, and we want to be working with the owners of these companies, not becoming government employees. Our members have good paying, private sector jobs with the tools and training they need to meet customers’ needs.”

“We are electrical workers, and we are union members, but we are also electric customers and rate payers. And that massive debt that we would take on works out to about $17,000 for an average customer in Maine. That’s more money every month on our electric bills,” Sapienza said.

Government-power proponents are circulating a petition to require a statewide vote on a proposal that would force a takeover of privately owned utilities in the state—Central Maine Power and Versant Power—and create a government-controlled power company run by a board of elected politicians.

Monahan said a government takeover of the grid would be bad for workers in Maine.

“If this proposal becomes law, it would put Maine $13.5 billion in debt, would lead to less investment in the electric grid, and mean that electric sector employees—our members—would be at risk of losing basic labor rights if they end up working for a government-controlled power company,” Monahan said. “The rights of public sector unions have been progressively eroded by the courts and by legislatures and we need to fight to protect our members from that happening to them.”