Consolidated Communications

A new contract between Local 1400 of the Communications Workers of America and Consolidated Communications could potentially eliminate 70 of 128 call center positions in northern New England.

All 70 of the potentially-eliminated jobs are in Maine. Local union chapter President Don Trementozzi said Thursday that agreeing to a series of early retirement incentives and placing the Maine jobs at risk was a better option than what the company had originally offered the union.

Having averted a strike, two unions representing about 1,000 Consolidated Communications workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have approved three-year contracts.

The two unions representing Consolidated Communications workers in Northern New England say their membership has voted "overwhelmingly" to authorize a strike if necessary.

Don Trementozzi with Communications Workers of America Local 1400, says negotiations have been contentious since they began in April, but he says a strike is in no one's best interest, and that both CWA and IBEW are hoping an agreement can be reached "You know a strike is not in the best interest of either party, you know, you lose customers, it costs a lot of money, people lose income," he says

AUGUSTA, Maine - The company that's buying FairPoint Communications will invest at least $52.2 million in Maine if the merger is approved by state regulators.
 
The document filed Tuesday by Consolidated Communications and FairPoint lays out a three-year investment plan requested by the public advocate.