PLYMOUTH, NH – Representatives of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union #1837 will continue negotiations after the union voted May 3 to reject the company’s contract offer.

The vote authorized the IBEW Negotiating Team to call for a strike by union employees, however there is no indication that a work stoppage is imminent. The union represents 83 NHEC employees, including lineworkers and other employees.

NHEC has prepared a contingency plan to provide for adequate coverage of power outages and protect public safety in the event that union employees engage in a work stoppage. Certified line crews have been engaged and will be accompanied on any outage calls by non-union NHEC employees who are familiar with the service territory. NHEC members will still be able to report outages 24 hours a day to the NHEC Outage line at 1-800-343-6432.