FairPoint asks unions for $30 million in cuts

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From above post- "Fairpoint made a contract that they would grant pay increases and pension increases each of the (5) year's on the contract".
That is exactly how I understood the very "Fair" contract was structured. Perhaps this was not the the best interest of Fairpoint at the time, however the penality for not accepting the terms at that time would have been a strike timed at the worst possible time.
So now its time for the Union to make concessions like all the rest of us out here in the public sector and put down your demands for $25-30 hr wages, OT, Cost-of-living increases, and pay a little for some of your your bene's and experience what most everyone else has had to in this economy. It may not also be a good time to force the company to "pay back conseesions". I have asked my own company to pay me back the forgone raises for the third year running and the forced time off (but they said no) so I said ok.

It would appear that Fairpoint has some options here and perhaps not as much to loose as one may think. It is entirely unreasonable to expect that Fairpoint will be able to restructure without union consessions and by not working with them may hurt your fellow (less tenured) union members. Heaven knows that no one likes a pay cut but that is what has happened to most average folk out their today, and in having it good for the last few years while most in the econony have suffered honestly does not present a good case for the Union holding Fairpoint over a barrel to honor what was obviously not good for the company from the beginning.
- Concerned citizen, Gilford NH

I will never understand people objecting to union wages. Verizon wouldn't sell to anyone but Fairpoint to execute the Reverse Morris Trust, making sure they didn't have to pay taxes on the sale. Also in the process handed off on the stockholders, Fairpoints DEBT. Which from that, 550 million in shareholder value has been wiped out. Fairpoint is an investment company 1st and fourmost. Gene Johnson and crew had no expertise on this, and no knowledge of how to execute the transaction either. Hence he gets to leave with his millions too. Regulators in Maine and NH closed this deal then left the PUC's for other ventures, appointed by their Govenors to see this transaction through.

So keep blaming unions while you call out on your $100 month verizon cell phones. Ivan, Gene and Goverment officials laugh at you all.
- nygmainefan, great woods maine

FPC you best sock away as much as you can now, because no non-union company will hire you in the future. You'll be working at radio shack gloating about passing the test "red to red, black to black"......

Socialist government, backed by marxist unions are killing this country.
- mark, hooksett

fpc of bedford i'd be thinking twice before you gloat. soon you will be lucky to make $10 per hour with very few benefits. you may need the friends that you dismiss.
- tom, manchester,nh

The average customer service rep in NH makes $15 an hour. The average customer service rep at Fairpoint makes $26 an hour. The average utility installer in NH makes $23 an hour. The average technician at Fairpoint makes $30 an hour. The average employee in NH pays some part of their insurance. The average employee at Fairpoint gets that all free.
- Angel, Manchester


your point?? actually, pal, we make more than you stated. if that's all you make, then you should've applied here when you had the chance...or did you, but weren't qualified?
- fpc, bedford

the profound ignorance of people that believe we should all make the same money is astounding (dave at telco r us only makes 24 dollars an hour, jane at service rep joes only makes 12 dollars an hour) union employees make too much ? you fools ......wall street laughs and runs to the bank while we fight over the table scraps ! why on earth would any average citizen complain about another working mans wages. divide and conquer is truly power, and wall street has all of you extremely divided.
- s, windham

hey angel......people like you astound me.....you target people who work for a living , with no mention of all the wall street crooks who rape the nation daily, and leave us to fight for table scraps, get a life your train of thought is impressively stupid, you are at the bottom with us all, and yet you try to take us all to a new low, and thus wall street to a new high.....you are profoundly ignorant
- s, windham

You Fairpoint employees seem to have one qualification; a test. Pass the test, get a lifetime of easy living. If anyone is critical, they could not pass the test. The test, the test, the test. Well, what about the market, new technology, cell phones, internet, high speed wireless, .. do you FP employees have cell phones? Of course you do, and those cell phones are NOT Fairpoint, are they? Do any of you have laptop computers, with wireless internet? Of course you do, and the wireless connection is NOT Fairpoint, is it. Your test is as obsolete as your wireline telephones, leftover from the old Bell System. Observe; when you Fairpoint employees post, you use the "phone company" reference. When those who criticize post, they don't. Why? Because there is no more phone company, no more Bell System, it is a thing of the past. ... Fairpoint's business is as obsolete as its test. The future is wire-less, not wire-more.
- Tom, Manchester, NH

My father worked for the phone company. We were not rich. I went to work there because they paid better than most places and I knew that they had good benefits. I have not lived a lavish lifestyle. I have a small house and it doesn't even have a garage.

Will someone please explain to me why people are so hateful towards us?
- S., Manchester NH

To Richard in Goffstown, what makes you think that this "test" is color coded wires? Honestly most people can't pass the test as most of it is common sense and people clearly have none.....
- JJ A, Manchester

TO richard D. of goffstown,
I DID pass the company test(s) ..and FYI. the 1st test does not involve knowing wires.. apparently you haven't even attempted to take the test ..hmm... AND BTW..like many here... I have a bachelor's degree in business mgmt.. I received it WHILE working a fulltime job AND raising my family .. so please "spare US" until you know what you are talking about..
- m-fairpoint employee, manchester, NH

The test into the company is not all about wires. It has math, spelling, reading comprehension, pattern recognition, spatial visualization, and flow charts. It is not an EASY test. I also have a degree as do many of our other employees. The jobs we have are not easy here. My job has a 7 year learning curve. I come in and do the best I can everyday and fully earn every cent. Unless you have walked in our shoes you can not pass any judgement. Yes, you may see guys in trucks not doing anything at times but they do get lunches and breaks just as you do. They work many long hours and work in any kind of weather. We do not have jobs here that close due to inclement weather. We are expected to be in work no matter what to serve our customers. The systems we have been given have been less than acceptable and we have done a great job. I am very proud of all of my co-workers. We are making strides everyday!
- J, Manchester NH

And to the guy who wrote about busting his butt for a 4 years degree...

What makes you think phone company employees DIDN'T didn't go to college before working for the phone company? I also worked with MANY MANY people during my 29 years who worked full time AND went to school at night to GET degrees. It just took them longer.
- Retired Verzon Employee, Manchester NH

WAY TO GO, EILEEN!!!!! I couldn't have said it better myself.

The way I've always looked at is this...
we didn't get paid TOO much, the rest of you aren'being paid enough. Is that OUR fault?????

Enjoy your retirement, Eleen. You're going to love it.
- -Retired Verizon Worker, Manchester NH

After 38 years "at the phone company" I have survived a multitude of events such as we are going through now. Going back to New England Telephone the business climate and job security has always been filled with peaks and valleys. This event however is the mother of all valleys and the cause lies directly in the lap of Fairpoint executives and PUC regulators. Keep in mind if our regulators and legislators in Maine New Hampshire and Vermont had been more "business friendly" we would all still be served by a well managed ,well funded, well respected telecom such as Verizon. Verizon left not because they did not want to do business in our states but because the business climate made it impossible for them to sustain a reasonable "return on investment". If one truly wants to cast blame at this point look at the long term adversarial relationships the PUCs and local governments had for longer than I can remember. Verizon had the resources , the management, and the necessary financial resources to deply FIOS or any other leading edge technology in all three states. Verizon was forced out and we inherited Fairpoint despite screaming as loud as possible that this plan had major flaws from the get go. Fairpoint made a "CONTRACT" with it's employees that they would grant pay raises and penison increases each of the five years of the contract .Now they are not only trying to get out of honoring those contract committments but are also asking for give back. The Verizon ship was sailing along forward with issues caused by the PUCs and legislators and willing to upgrade yet had to sell out to stay profitable and now we have Fairpoint execs running "our" ship hard on the rocks and passing us the bail buckets. Yes I will make concessions to keep my job but expect every person on the property to do the same and also think if and when the company arrises from Bankruptcy the concessions should be foregone and our agreed upon contract should be reinstated with "payback" for the concessions made if and when Fairpoint ever makes an honest buck in the future. The current leadership is not capable of rithting this ship and the first step to surviving this event is to get some new people on board from the top whom are capable of running a successful telecom.
Michael E. Carter, Proud member of Local 2327 38 years and growing. "When it's time to play ,play hard , When it's time to work , work hard. It is now time for all to roll up there sleeves , quit whining and Get R Done.
- Michael, Northfield Maine

I love this "pass the test stuff". Are you guys serious? How about busting your butt for a 4 year degree? Please spare us the "we're sooooo smart because we passed a test on red/yellow/green/black wires" b.s. What a joke!! You make yourselves look even more uneducated than you are.
- Richard D., Goffstown

To all the people out there bashing, what would you do if you were asked to give up $250 a week? would you not fight it?

To all of you thinking that unions=overpayment, just think a lower wage for people who are fighting it simply shows other employers that if it can happen to a union well then why not do it elsewhere.... This job is not easy. No matter where one works they face safety risks everyday. Every penny of that money is earned...

These employees have families, bills, homes to pay for. Yes the economy is bad and many people are out of work, but it is still not my fault that this company bit off more than it could chew. I would have no problem with some type of negotiation but to simply take $250 a week from my livelyhood is unacceptable.
Due to this bad economy I am the sole provider for a family of 5. Taking any bit away from me removes food from my table, prevents some bills from being paid.... etc.
I am pretty sure anyone else in this position would be feeling the same way if it were them being asked to make these types of concessions.......
- j- fairpoint employee, Manchester

First off I’d like to start by saying this: half the people complaining about FairPoint’s union & the amount of money we make probably failed the entrance test miserably. Sour grapes will not sooth your feelings of worthlessness, the other half truly do not realize the amount of skill, dedication, and perseverance that is required to be an employee of the phone company. Everyday outside techs risk their safety to ensure that people have service. It’s not a feeling of entitlement that we have, its going home at the end of everyday knowing that we earned every single penny that we are paid. A previous post mentioned that we should be paid the same as Comcast. Comcast guys have 1 wire, we have 2 wires per customer so multiply their hourly pay by every wire we deal with everyday and I will certainly take that! And for your information; Comcast tech’s do not climb in inclement weather; where would you all be last year during the storms; it’s funny I remember, during the ice storm FairPoint’s truck were rolling out as Comcast vans were rolling in?? and now this brings me to the plight of the workers inside, the daily battle of trying to wrestle and bend poorly implemented systems to accomplish even the most basic of tasks & the berating that we/they receive from customer’s because we can’t accomplish what needs to get done ..Mike M.. you say you would take $10 an hour to do this job…. Bet you dollars to donuts….mmm.. donuts… that within a week you would be SCREAMING that you are undercompensated or dead. So to all those who judge us, until you walk a mile in OUR ANSI Z41 boots … well… you know the rest…
- Dan G- fairpoint employee, manchster, nh

Gee, alls I have to do when I want to see a fair point employee working hard is to go to one of the local parks to see several trucks parked there hanging out.

There must be a lot of residential customers living in those parks.
- dave, manchester

Let's see:

Airlines
Airplane manufacturers
Auto Companies

What do they have in common? Unions which refused to yield to their need to become competitive thus forcing them into bankruptcy. Fairpoint's next......you will now need to pay for your own healthcare,provide for your own retirement and accept a reasonable wage, just like like everyone else.
- Bob R, Sandwich

Tomorrow I am retiring from Fairpoint after 31 years as a dues-paying union member. I have seen this company go from New England Telephone to NYNEX to Bell Atlantic to Verizon and now to Fairpoint and the one consistent thing through all the changes is that there are ALWAYS people bitching and complaining about the phone company. They've always hated us no matter what our name is. I've listened to this for 31 years and thank God after tomorrow I will NEVER have to listen to it again.

All I've heard is how "rich" I must be since I make so much money. I am a single woman who pays a mortgage, light bill, water bill, electric bill and whatever other bills come in. I have to buy groceries every week just like everyone else. . I have a car (not a Mercedes or a BMW) that I have to put gas in and also pay to keep it running. I don't live on filet mignon and cavier 7 days a week. Also, I don't have a maid or a housekeeper so I do my own laundry, clean my house and even do the dishes (I don't even have a dishwasher). I occasionally have to buy clothes and/or shoes. I don't buy designer clothes or wear Manolos.

Yes I've been well-paid. I've also dragged myself into work so sick I should have stayed home. I've driven through hurricanes, floods, and blizzards to get to work every day. But I DIDN'T because I had a work ethic. We were there to serve the customers so if you were half-dead you'd better get in to work.

All I know is that I am sick and tired of hearing people dump all over the Fairpoint employees. Most of them are hard-working and dedicated. Yes there may be a few bad apples as well, but I challenge anyone to name a place of employment that doesn't have the same problem. I'm tired of people jumping on the Let's Hate Fairpoint bandwagon. You didn't like the phone company before so don't single Fairpoint out in your criticism. You sound like a bunch of vultures moving in for the kill once the attack has started.
- Eileen, Manchseter

I think Wendy's might be more your speed, hon. Can you say "You want fries with that?"


I'll come work for Fairpoint and do the same job as these union members for half the pay just to get a job again.
- Mike M, Manchester
- Debra, Plymouth

12,000 a year is a huge pay cut and I dont know anyone that wouldnt fight to keep it.. as for lazy employees.I think every work place has them....they are everywhere.The union members of this comapny have been busting their butts for months, I am one of them working weekends and 12 hour days to get service to customers. The problem is we went from having systems that worked great to inferior systems that take 100 times longer to process transactions and even then we are lucky if it works. Before they cut our pay they should be getting rid of contractors and sorry to say but the temps they have hired.. who only have a year invested in this company not 20. And no more bonus for big management. There are alot of good hardworking people who work here and we come in day after day of listening to people complain ... people who just bitch about fairpoint.. and really have no idea what is going on within the company. We did not want this sale to go thru but it did. Now everyone just keeps beating down the employees.. we are doing the best we can with what we were given by Fairpoint.
- s-fairpoint employee, manchester

To all you anti-union commenters:

You are playing right into the Big Wheel's agenda to belittle every American worker. Make no mistake about it, when the wage of union workers is decreased, the wage of non-union workers will decrease soon after.
$12,000 a year buys a lot of goods from your line of work. Where will your job be when these 2600 people are no longer your customers?
- Jane, Manchester

To all the union employee bashing people...

Do I sense jealousy????

You, too, could have applied for jobs at the phone company...and if you passed the tests, could be making a decent living wage and have excellent benefits.
- -R-Retired Verizon Employee, Manchester

Mark in Hookset, You are insane and "mental" if you think: "The Healthcare bill is just a way to get illegals covered. Illegals who pay nothing into the system."
The healthcare bill is about making sure hard working people who get screwed by companies like fairpoint can still afford healthcare for themselves and for their children when they lose their job, or are injured or become chronically sick.
The union opposed the merger, they should not be forced to give any concessions. I'm not saying I have the answers, but it's not their fault this happened, period.
- mike, hampstead, nh

Fairpoint wants a 20% reduction in pay and benefits from its union employees. All of you who feel this is fair please send 20% of YOUR pay to them so they can mismanage your money too! Thank you in advance for your help.
- steve, bedford

Boy Mark from Hooksett you are one angry man!! lol. Lighten up these guys are fighting for their pay what is wrong with that!! Would you willingly take a 12K paycut and smile about it?? talking about 6 workers watching one do the work, have you seen the commercial when 5 corporate workers are sitting in the office looking out the window at the construction workers? There are 6 workers standing around while one is using the jackhammer, they laugh, and say, " look how the work only one guy is doing the work" meanwhile these guys are all standing around drinking coffee while one person is typing on the computer! same thing different job. Also there are safety measures when one person in working in a manhole, I guess you dont understand how dangerous the job actually is, thats why the pay is high. working around toxic gasses in a manhole or near power lines. maybe you need to get a job instead of flooding this message board with all your anti-union propaganda. Like I said to waste your "hard" working time sittin around here complaining doesnt sound like much fun. Go have a beer or something!! And let people fight for what they believe in.
- John, Maine

Steve from Manchester: Our State government lets us down all the time. They are only concerned about how much taxes (known as fees in New Hampshire) the can suck out of us while they cowtow to the corporations. Outlaw lobbyists and our government will return to the people.
- Bill, Wolfeboro

The average customer service rep in NH makes $15 an hour. The average customer service rep at Fairpoint makes $26 an hour. The average utility installer in NH makes $23 an hour. The average technician at Fairpoint makes $30 an hour. The average employee in NH pays some part of their insurance. The average employee at Fairpoint gets that all free.
- Angel, Manchester

Someone should open an investigation to include all parties that provide input on the viability of the deal between Verizon and Fairpoint to begin with. There had to be a lot swept under the rug or embellished that would allow the PUC to think this was a doable deal - A complete and public investigation of all parties by the Attorney General, to include all members of the PUC, Verizon and FairPoint executives and all outside consultants that provided any input to the process. Verizon may be laughing, but, someone should make them take back some of this area, because FairPoint is simply not going to make it, now or in the future - they need to go south and give up or give back the Northeast to Verizon sooner rather then later. We in NH need to have the option to go back to Verizon and upgrade to FIOS as well.
- Bill, Manchester

Boy, Mark from Hooksett, you have an awful lot to say. You know what, I work for fairpoint and I can tell you first hand that there are many, many hardworking people in this company that have been busting their humps through this whole change. I'm not gonna deny that there are some that are lazy that do feel entitled. But don't be so quick to lump all 2600 of the union members as lazy slobs. Most take a great deal of pride in their work and it can show. I would go toe-to-toe with a union or non-union person anyday as far as work ethic goes. Also, if YOU were going to have your pay and benefits cut 12k a year, would you not fight to keep them? Or would you just turn and give them up while upper management continues to get paid very nicely? Like many have stated in here today.... if they want 30mil a year, why not start with some of the 1.6mil bonus the CEO has gotten. How willing is he to give up some of his money? I'd personally be open to some negotiation, but what they're looking for is too much. So don't criticize the rest of us for wanting to keep as much of what we're making currently.
- Jay, Manchester

Switch to Comcast (or a service of your choice), then you won't have to worry about land lines, or sleeping workers, or man-hole cover watchers. Non-union contractors for short money to boot. I left Verizon/Fairpoint years ago and have never been happier! And you'll never see their workers clogging up message boards or covering lawns with "Stop the Sale" signs during work hours! You do have choices!
- Richard, Goffstown

Brad, are you mental? how do you redistribute "WEALTH" *from* the POOR to the RICH? It's the other way around. You've got to be blind to not see Obama giving Tax payer money to the poor. Taxpayer money comes from people with JOBS. It goes to the poor who have NO job. That's the transfer of wealth.

The Healthcare bill is just a way to get illegals covered. Illegals who pay nothing into the system. That's the transfer of wealth.
---------------------

Brad you wrote:
"The economy is bad due to a PLANNED redistribution of wealth from the poor to the corporate elite (more bailouts anybody?). "...... - Brad, Ellsworth, ME
- mark, Hooksett

Joan, Steve and the other fairpoint "employees" who say they aren't giving up their $12k..... You sound like you're entitled to your job. Here in lies the problem.... you're not! That is the problem with unions, you guys all think you're entitled to get paid for doing nothing while the company goes belly up. How about they can 25% of you. Then they implement merit based pay - the more you get done the more you get paid. I'd like to see union employees compete with non union. It will never happen. The union not only puts the screws to the employer, but also the employees who have pride in their work and productivity. There is no incentive to do the best job you can when all it does is tick off the other union slobs who prefer to just kick back and do nothing. Not to mention the higher performing employee will never see any pay increase for the efforts. Thank your lucky liberal stars that you have job at all and do what you need to do to keep the company going. Once the company goes belly up, you and your UNION can go looking elsewhere with your lazy butt attitudes.
- mark, Hooksett

People are missing the big picture, Of course competitors and the economy play a big role in this, but the main focus should be that Fairpoint came in with a lot of big promises and no one bought it except the puc. Now they want to break their promises to all the hard working employess, which keep in mind worked over 10 hours a day and mandatory saturdays, just to keep this company afloat. So now that they have sucked out of almost every situation, they want to bring it on the employees. I agree with everyone else, once these top management people who sunk this ship give up their money, we might be more apt to listen, but dont give us, the whole I would work for half your money, thats missing the point. I would be a major leauge baseball player for half their money too.
- eazyE, maine

Whenever I drive by a fairpoint work site, it's always 6 guys or more. Only one is working, the rest are sitting around and not moving. Sometimes they are sleeping. It's no wonder the company has to charge as much as it does and is in such a bad spot when they have this sad level of productivity. Unions = Poor Productivity.
- mark, hooksett

- fpc, bedford wrote "first, you need to qualify...just because your willing to be a scab, doesn't mean you have the ability to do the job!" .. Mr fpc, of bedford, With millions of folks across the country out of work, finding a few to replace FP union employees who do not want their jobs any longer should be easy. What you FP employees need to understand is the bankruptcy process. FP legal must convince a bankruptcy judge that it has a plan in place which will allow it to emerge from bankruptcy and be a profitable company going forward. Your future employment, salary, benefits are in the hands of a court. If I were you, I'd be looking to team up with management, not fight them, so that you don't end up with no job and benefits. Delphi, the GM parts supplier, its employees wages were cut 63% in bankruptcy. Time for you to work with, not against, your CEO.
- tommy, manchester,nh

Seems very clear who the posters are saying for the employees to take pay cuts=Managers. Just because Failpoint has taken everything from you guys, now you want to see the employees get taken for a ride also. Anyone and everyone would want to keep their benefits and pay whether union or nonunion so some people on here need to smarten up!!
- John, ME

Well said FPC! There is a test, sometimes more than one, depending on the job you are applying for. *and spelling is a part of the test!*
Dealing with the public in general is difficult, try doing it with the added pressure of crappy systems & bad press. All while trying to help the customer... it can be a difficult position.. but "we" the union workers are doing it! The idea of a concession frustrates me like no tomorrow. We knew this would be the outcome, we fought against the sale, but nobody listened; and because of that they are now asking my family to take a $250 cut in pay & benefits. don't seem fair at all.. we could say we told you so .... but......would it do any good?
- M, FairPoint Employee, Manchester, NH

- cynthia, northfield: The time is past due for management to make concessions!!! If they really have a $800K annual salary and benefits, then they need to make the sacrifice, too.
- Gary L. Kerr, Chichester

FairPoint workers should get the same as Comcast workers.
- Lashonda, Manchester

People keep asking why the PUC's would have approved this sale in the first place? Again I will say, Look up the members of your PUC's in these 3 states - many time they are comprised of ex-telephone company (Verizon)retirees.....HELLO?????? Can you hear me now?
- Joyce, Londonderry

"FairPoint and its lenders want to treat its commitments to regulators in northern New England as unsecured claims it can renegotiate. " This is Fairpoint's chance to raise phone rates. Personally.... I am not very satisfied with them so If they raise my rate I will drop them. I may just drop them out of spite at this point. Nice job PUC.
- Peter, Pembroke nh

All you anti union people that need a job should go check out Wall-Mart. If you like working for peanuts and crappy benefits while the CEO's and owners cash in on your labor, it will suit you fine. The Walton family is in a 5 way tie for 4th richest in the US. If the union employees from Fairpoint take pay cuts, your phone bills don't go down. But I am sure some bigwig will get a nice bonus for securing that deal.
- John, Manchestah

I'll come work for Fairpoint and do the same job as these union members for half the pay just to get a job again.
- Mike M, Manchester

first, you need to qualify...just because your willing to be a scab, doesn't mean you have the ability to do the job!
- fpc, bedford

I'll come work for Fairpoint and do the same job as these union members for half the pay just to get a job again.
- Mike M, Manchester

I’ve read articles in the Union Leader, The Telegraph and Monitor over the last three days.., all centering around the same set of facts…, the Fairpoint Union workers have been asked to offer up.., “at least $30M in concessions,” as part of the recently filed bankruptcy. My response, WHAT?!
Fairpoint Communications is seeking to reduce $2.7B in debt by $1.7B (a near 65% reduction) and tells the bankruptcy judge, seemingly without prior notice to Union leadership, it NEEDs to have $30M from the Union membership (less than 2% of the overall reduction sought) or the Chapter 11 reorganization may fail?!
In the overall scheme of this Bankruptcy, $30M may not be a significant portion.., but it roughly equates to $12,000-15,000 and to me the individual, the taxpayer, the NH consumer .., that’s an untenable request.
Certainly Fairpoint can negotiate the next contract with the Union to realize needed savings, but this last minute submission to a bankruptcy judge without first informing the Union leadership, smacks of smoke-filled backroom, backslapping, good ole boy deal-making instead of upfront, face-to-face genuine negotiations.
I’m not convinced we won’t be in front of another bankruptcy judge in 3 years going through this “give-back” dance again. This seems a bit smarmy to me.
- Max, manchester

I say let the members of the PUC pay for the cuts. Especially since they pushed through the sale to Fairpoint from Verizon over a plethora of objections and studies that said it would be a bad thing for New England.
- Michael D. Houst, Barrington, NH

To Amy
I also find your statement extremely offensive. Our technicians, they work their butts off. You have heard about one guy "sleeping" (most likely on break) but how often have "heard" about the technicians when they are up on the pole fixing your line in rainstorms, snowstorms, ICE storms, sweltering heat. Staying late to "finish" their jobs, getting called in on weekends, or in the middle of the night.. or even called to a different state to help out another area...away from their family & friends. you never hear about those things...but I KNOW. You just form an opinion from the one "guy" you know, I see & hear about it all the time.
I am with Joan, I work and have worked hard for fairpoint I have earned my pay rate & benefits, started at the bottom and fought hard to get them, and to take a cut in pay like that, after fighting to PREVENT the sale, don’t think so, I am not going to let a company who took on WAY too much cut my pay when higher exec's are bring home a cool million or so as a BONUS..
- M- fairpoint employee, manchester, NH

Verizon never wanted to sell NH's land lines, just Maine's and Vermont's because they will never be profitable. Fairpoint, or no one else for that matter, would purchase Maine's or Vermont's land lines without NH's land lines. What is important to point out is that there really were no other large, established telephone companies willing to buy a declining buisness in a lightly populated part of the country. Had Verizon not sold the lines to Fairpoint, NH would have probably been OK, but Maine and Vermont would have never seen upgrades. Face it, land lines are a buggy whip business. Cellular and fiber are the future. It is just too expensive to make the investment to upgrade states that have small populations.
- Mike, Bedford

I'm with Amy from the Upper Valley. You do see folks sleeping on the job. Hell, I know CSR's or operators working in an office at this company making $25-30 an hour and they can't even spell the word 'operator'. All companies are sharing in costs now, both large and small. You pay zero for most of your benefits. Make some concessions and be thankful there is employment for you as there are many folks out there who would work for $10 an hour and do just as good of a job.
- Arturo, Manchester

How many people have said that we need to be willing to give up a little? The economy is bad they say. We need to do our part they say. I've got a little secret for you: The economy is bad due to a PLANNED redistribution of wealth from the poor to the corporate elite (more bailouts anybody?). Like frogs sitting in a pot of water we do not realize that things keep getting hotter as we give little by little. Sooner or later some frogs need to start jumping out of the pot or supper will be served and we are the main course. Of course, we can't take action today beause Dances With the Stars is on tonight. Perhaps tomorrow......
- Brad, Ellsworth, ME

What a bunch of cry babies. Suck it up. The state union thought they could fight and win too. The only thing that happen is a lot of good people lost their jobs. That is exactly what's going to happen hear. Wake up, you selfish bottom feeders and help the low guy on the totum poll.
- JJ, Manchester

Agreed that management should be taking pay cuts as well.

HOWEVER, many (maybe not all) Fairpoint union employees are grossly overpaid and underworked. If you don't want to take the pay cut, I'd be happy to take your job AND pay most of my own benefits like most of the private sector has to do. Even if that means I have to work long hard hours.

Do union employees have any clue how much the benefit package alone is worth?

Most everyone I know in the private sector has taken a pay cut every year for the past 3 years.
- Joe C, Manchester

SHAME ON THE PUC'S:
Direct Testimony
of
RANDY BARBER
On Behalf of the
Communications Workers of America and
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

"FairPoint’s financial projections assume essentially flawless execution of the integration. If everything does not go perfectly, it could cause significant financial harm to FairPoint."

"FairPoint is simply too small, too inexperienced, and too thinly capitalized to undertake a venture of this magnitude."
- TIM, MANCHESTER, NH

I love that these higher-up execs at Fairpoint don't have to lose their pay or ridiculously high bonuses....The little people in this company are the ones keeping it alive....and barely.
- D, MANCHESTER

I find that comment highly offensive. I make those wages and work really hard. Also, the guys do get breaks and lunches which some choose to nap during those times. We do not deserve to lose wages. We are the ones who have kept this company going. You can not judge the whole company on a few bad apples. We have tried to stop the sale from the beginning and were shot down. I think it is highly unfair for you to pass judgement unless you get all of your facts straight.
- J, Manchester NH

Are you kidding? Do you have any idea what those guys actually make and how they actually spend their time????? I know one who makes $30+/hr and naps on the job, because the union wont allow them to work too many jobs in a day. All the while we are waiting for service. How about a reasonable wage and more jobs?
- Amy, Upper Valley

Cut our pay? We have made this company money - navigating through systems that are terrible, making things work that are a mess everyday..We are keeping this company alive & they want to money from us? UNREAL
- M, Fairpoint Employee

What future is there in NH, or anywhere, for a (lousy) "Internet provider" who, after more than a year following the takeover, has no provision for paying on line? None....
- Mae, Plaistow

My first thought a week ago when the Fairpoint CEO started praising his employees was "oh oh, here it comes".......Well Mr. CEO - it's up to you to set the example - you got an obscenely big bonus for signing up with Fairpoint - give it back and set an example. Then establish pay/benefit reductions from other management employees. Only then should you talk about concessions from the rank and file workers. I have to agree with Joan. Everybody needs to share the pain.
- Sandy, Thornton

Maybe "upper management" should take cuts, but many front line management make barely more than union personnel...AND they pay for all benefit....and that cost for benefits will double for 2010. Perhaps the union could agree to at least pay something for their benefits.
- Angel, Manchester

So a company buys something they could not afford. Now they can't pay for it and are going into bankruptcy. And they managed to agree on $1.7 billion in debt to be forgiving. So what is up with the $30 million? Was $1,730,000,000 to much for BOA to give out. After the billions and billions they got for out TAX ballout? I am sure the senior management will forgo all bounes and take the same percent reduction in pay. As I sit in the pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumkin to show up... oh I ment the PUC.
- Bill, Manchester

This was all predicted. I don't know why the utilities commissions in NH-VT-ME rolled over to approve the Fairpoint deal despite all the questions and objections, but obviously they did.

Verizon execs must be laffing their butts off, after collecting their $620 million tax credit for the sale and dumping customer areas they didn't want.
- Daphne, Goffstown

Joan of Fairpoint, you, and your fellow workers are being badly served by your union. "Glenn Brackett, business manager for IBEW Local 2320, said there is "no justification" for $30 million in cuts." Your union is worried about their self interests, they are out for themselves. I know, if I were an employee, I would be very suspicious
of Mr Brackett and his fellow union bosses. As for the blame game? The CEO? The PUC? Easy targets. Your blame list left off; the economy, technology, competition. Have you noticed; millions of Americans are out of work. Millions of Americans have no health insurance. Millions of Americans have lost their homes, savings, future. And MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR JOB, EVEN WITH A 30% CUT IN PAY AND BENEFITS! Wake up.
- Thomas, Manchester, New Hampshire

I hope the employees remember to thank the PUC and the rest of the regulatory boards for bringing in a po dunk company to run 3 states with no infrastructure plans or back ground in running this type of enterprise. There is a big difference between a few lines around North Carolina and Northern New England. This is the responsibility of the PUC. The Fairpoint executives should have a 50% cut in pay or possibly only pay them in worthless stock. It is possible that Obama dollars can go to the company to support the company and not the employees.
- Tammy, Lancaster

As usual, the worker is expected to sacrifice while management continues to collect their grossly high salaries, benefits, and perks without any sacrifice of any kind. Management and greed to make a corporate buck is what put this company in the financial straights it sees now -- not the workers of the company. Management should pay, not the worker and not the customer for the faults of the buy-out plan.
- Gary L. Kerr, Chichester

The cable companies are looking for technicians to put in all those new phone/internet customers that they are getting from the PUC decision. I wonder if they had anythingto do with the PUC letting this disaster in.
- mike, Nottingham

Sounds like the cuts needs to start at the top down, not the bottom up. This cut would be a loss of $250. per week! I don't know any family that could withstand a cut like that! They are certainly taking the Fair out of Fairpoint!
- barb, bangor me

what a great time for Verizon to make an offer, buy back the company and be the hero. As for the drama with the employee cuts to wages and benefits, didn't you read what happened with state employees recently? No one is immune. Either give up a little or give it all up.
- cynthia, northfield

I knew it when Hauser was praising Fairpoint employees. It was like the Godfather giving that kiss on the cheek to the guy that was to get whacked.

Steve

You are right about the state government letting NH down. Now lets all hold them accountable next year.
- Chris, Merrimack

I am with Joan..... when the ceo drops his salary and gives up his bonus maybe I will make a $100 concession..... otherwise no money from me! It's not my fault, or any other workers for that matter, that the company could not pay the bills. The union told them so and no one wanted to listen....
- j - fairpoint employee, Manchester

Well said, Joan. Our stat gov't let us down on this one! We all saw this coming...this company had no business trying to take on this task.
- Steve, Manchester

I'm going to take $12K per year less just as quickly as our CEO forfeits his $800K per year salary & his $1.6 million dollar signing bonus...darn, we just can't pay our bills... it wouldn't have anything to do with corporate greed & bail outs would it?
- Joan - Fairpoint employee, Manchester NH