Why IBEW Local 37?
We're Different
 Unions come in all shapes and sizes. All have the best interests of their members at heart, but beyond that there are often significant differences in philosophy and approach.
At IBEW Local 37, we like to feel, and have been repeatedly told, that we are one of the most progressive-minded unions in the country, and in fact beyond. It is a reputation we are proud of. It is based first on doing what’s best for our members. We accomplish this based on our firmly held belief that most workplaces have grown beyond the old “us versus them” paradigm , that was born back in the day when unions formed out of necessity to fight for basic rights against exploitative bosses. Those days are gone, and at IBEW, so too is that “us verses them” mentality.
Today, we are motivated by the understanding that we are in this together, and that the employer needs to be successful for us to benefit, so we look for solutions that are win-win. IBEW’s Code of Excellence is an example of this. The Code is an initiative initiated by the union to do every job properly, on time and on budget, and it lays out the responsibilities members must asssume in order to meet this professional standard.
Most of Local 37’s members work for NB Power, and our union’s track record with this employer is further evidence of our win-win focus:
- We have gone more than 35 years strike free, during which many collective agreements were negotiated.
- A joint project with IBEW Local 37 resulted in NB Power being the first employer in the province to provide on-site daycare.
- We and NB Power co-operated to develop our Training Trust Fund, which provides both professional and personal development training opportunities for members, free of charge.
All this to say two things – we have what we feel is an excellent working relationship with our employers, but this is not to say we don’t have our disagreements. But when we do we have processes in place to work them out in an environment of professional respect. We fight hard for our members, but always at a professional not personal level. Again, it is about win-win.
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