FairPoint unions vow to take fight to 'new level' by targeting CEO, board, corporate owners

Leaders of two unions representing more than 1,700 FairPoint workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont say they're going after the CEO, board members and corporate owners for refusing to negotiate.

The Communication Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers accused the company of trying to provoke a strike and vowed to take the fight "to a new level." As part of that effort, the unions picketed Wednesday outside an event where CEO Paul Sunu was speaking in New York.

Charlotte, North Carolina-based FairPoint Communications Inc. ended negotiations by declaring an impasse last month.

The new contract imposed by the company freezes the existing defined benefit pension plan. It also allows the company to hire contractors, eliminates retiree health care benefits and requires workers to share some health care costs.