FairPoint, unions fail to agree on new pact before deadline, but negotiations will continue
FairPoint Communications and two unions representing more than 1,700 workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have failed to agree on a contract, but workers will remain on the job under the old contract while talks continue.
Negotiators broke off talks at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, an hour and a half before the contract expired.
Mike Spillane from Local 2326 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Vermont says the two sides are still "miles apart" but he hopes they can reach a deal. He says talks will resume in coming days.
Union workers are unhappy with proposed changes to health and retirement benefits, and the company's efforts to hire nonunion workers. The company has struggled since buying Verizon's landline telephone operations seven years ago in northern New England.