FairPoint, Unions to Meet Sunday to Negotiate on New England Strike

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service said Friday it will mediate renewed negotiations that were slated to begin Sunday between FairPoint Communications and leaders from the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to resolve an ongoing strike of more than 1,700 FairPoint workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The strike, which began in October after negotiations for a new contract broke down, has prompted complaints about FairPoint’s service quality in the three states and criticism from the states’ congressional delegations. “This is a positive step and we look forward to resuming negotiations with FairPoint,” IBEW Local 2327 Business Manager Peter McLaughlin, head of the unions’ bargaining committee, said in a statement Friday. “It’s time to reach a fair deal for working families and communities in New England.” FairPoint “remains willing to listen to reasonable union proposals that ensure the company's ability to compete,” a company spokeswoman said.