FairPoint Communications has accused striking workers of jamming the company’s phone lines and harassing replacement workers. The unions representing about 2,000 employees say the allegations are “outrageous and unfounded.”
The parties were at odds for months even before contract negotiations began in early 2014. Bargaining fell apart in August, when FairPoint declared an impasse and imposed its own contract terms on about 2,000 unionized workers in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Pension and health care changes are at the core of the dispute that led to a strike that began on Friday, when regional members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communications Workers of America commenced a strike.
In a statement released Oct. 21, FairPoint officials reiterated their commitment to continued customer service. They were still rolling out contingency plans, company spokeswoman Angelynne Beaudry said. In the meantime, they had concerns.
“We have been experiencing significantly higher than usual call volumes into some of our call centers. A large number of these calls, based on all available indications, appear to be computer-generated and intended to interfere with our ability to answer legitimate customer calls,” the statement said.
FairPoint also accused strikers of intimidation. “Individuals have followed and intimidated contractors and employees, blocked our trucks, surrounded our workers on job sites, trespassed on customer property and engaged in conduct that impedes the work FairPoint is doing to meet customer needs. … We have also confirmed reports of intimidation of small, local businesses with which we do business.”
The company said it sent a letter regarding the concerns to IBEW and CWA leaders.
In a response statement the same day, the unions denied any wrongdoing. They said FairPoint had not provided evidence of the alleged misconduct.
“Prior to the strike action, the unions carefully trained our members about their federally-protected rights to engage in peaceful picketing activity,” they said. “(We) will not let FairPoint use these spurious and unfounded allegations to take the spotlight off of the company’s unfair practices and unwillingness to provide appropriate working conditions for the hard-working men and women who have served these communities for many years.”
