PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The governor of Washington toured a labor union training center in Oregon as part of his campaign for president.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports Gov. Jay Inslee on...

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Two unions representing about 1,000 Consolidated Communications workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have approved three-year contracts, their first under the Illinois-based company, officials said Friday.

The negotiating committee of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communications Workers of America announced the approval while acknowledging in a statement on social media that concessions "will have a profound effect on many of our lives."

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Latest on unions' approval of a contract with Consolidated Communications (all times local):

12:45 p.m.

Consolidated Communications CEO Bob Udell says a labor agreement for about 1,200 workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont will enable his company to manage costs "as a sustainable, long-term business."

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communications Workers of America announced approval of the three-year agreements Friday.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — About 1,000 Consolidated Communication workers across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are going to begin voting this week on tentative contract agreements that were reached late Saturday, averting a potential strike.

Union officials said agreements with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communications Workers of America protect jobs, maintain affordable health care, and provide enhanced retirement benefits.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Latest on a tentative agreement reached between Consolidated, unions (all times local):

11:30 a.m.

Unions representing about 1,000 Consolidated Communications workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are going to be voting in a matter of days on tentative contract agreements.

Officials don't have a precise timeline but say workers represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communications Workers will be casting tallies this week.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Consolidated Communications and unions representing about 1,000 workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont reached tentative agreements on new contracts late Saturday, averting a potential strike.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communications Workers of America authorized a strike but the labor agreement came before the old contract expired at midnight Saturday.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Latest on contract negotiations between Consolidated, unions (all times local):

11:52 p.m.

Consolidated Communications and unions representing about 1,000 workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have reached tentative agreements on a new contract, averting a strike.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communications Workers of America already authorized a strike but the labor agreement came before the contract expired at midnight Saturday.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Unions representing Consolidated Communications workers in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont have authorized a strike if negotiators fail to reach an agreement before their contract expires in less than two weeks, officials announced Wednesday.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Latest on Consolidated Communications' labor negotiations (all times local):

Consolidated Communications says it's negotiating in good faith as it seeks an agreement with unions representing workers in Maine, Hampshire and Vermont.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An arbitrator says Rockwell Collins violated a union contract when it outsourced its Cedar Rapids custodial work.

Arbitrator Robert Grey on Wednesday upheld a grievance filed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, ordering the aviation electronics company to make affected employees whole. He gave both sides 60 days to craft a remedy.

PLYMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative and union workers say they've reached a tentative agreement on new contract.

Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1837 went on strike May 7. Their contract expired April 30.

The union said a ratification vote was planned Thursday morning. The NHEC said the contract would need to be approved its board of directors, expected early next week.

PLYMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — A federal mediator is scheduled to meet with representatives of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative and workers entering the 10th day of a strike over pension and retirement plan proposals.

Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1837 went on strike May 7. Their contract expired April 30.

One of the main sticking points was the utility's provision to allow for changing pension and retirement plans for lineworkers without negotiation.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Union workers at the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative have gone on strike after an effort to continue negotiations failed.

Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1837 planned to strike after voting to reject the company's contract offer last week. The strike was halted as the co-op agreed to continue negotiations on Monday. Both sides couldn't reach an agreement and the workers went on strike.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — National Grid and the union representing electrical workers have reached an agreement for construction of a transmission project that would bring up to 1,200 megawatts of clean energy from Canada to the New England power grid, and run along existing lines in Vermont and New Hampshire.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Documents show federal agents wire-tapped the cellphones of a powerful Philadelphia labor boss and his protege on the City Council for more than a year.

Johnny "Doc" Dougherty runs the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 and has long been a powerful political force in the city. He's the focus of an FBI investigation into nearly all aspects of the union's operations.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A non-union electrical contractor has filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against a powerful Philadelphia union leader and his local saying developers have refused to hire him since the two traded blows at a worksite earlier this year.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Employees at the Electrolux appliance factory in Memphis have voted to be represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union.

The Commercial Appeal reports (http://memne.ws/2dsw8Zg ) that about 650 workers cast ballots in the unionization vote, which prevailed by a more than 2-to-1 margin. The election came about 16 months after a previous unionization effort was defeated.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has announced new contracts with two unions representing nearly 6,000 state and higher education employees.

Christie unveiled the agreements Thursday with the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Corporation Commission has granted several requests to intervene in the proposed $12.2 billion merger between Topeka-based Westar Energy and Great Plains Energy.

The Lawrence Journal-World (http://bit.ly/2bI2X88 ) reports that requests from Occidental Chemicals, Midwest Energy and two local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers were granted Tuesday.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Latest on federal agents searching several lined to a powerful Philadelphia labor boss (all times local):

4:30 p.m.

A Philadelphia labor union is defending its financial practices after federal agents searched several properties linked to the group's powerful boss.

Frank Keel, a spokesman for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, says the union undergoes "an extensive annual audit and is subject to many layers...