Vermont Business Magazine The board of directors of the Vermont-NEA, the state’s largest union, has authorized a donation of $12,200 to the unions representing 2,000 Fairpoint Communications workers in northern New England who have been on strike for nearly two months. FairPoint has implemented a plan to realign benefit packages with non-union workers and to give itself the ability to hire non-union workers under certain conditions. The unions have agreed to some benefit concessions. Non-binding arbitration in November failed to resolve the issue or move it closer to a resolution. Political pressure also has been unsuccessful. The contract with unionized workers expired last summer.
“What Fairpoint is doing to our brothers and sisters is unconscionable and unacceptable,” said Martha Allen, president of Vermont-NEA, which represents 12,000 public education workers in Vermont. “These working men and women have offered millions of dollars’ worth of concessions to Fairpoint only to be met with silence and a refusal to compromise.”
RELATED:
FairPoint strikers rally at Vermont State House
Vermont Public Service Department seeks investigation into FairPoint service quality
Vermont-NEA’s board authorized the donation on behalf of the union’s members and locals, including the South Burlington Educators Association. “As all of us – particularly our recently-on-strike members in South Burlington – know, a strike is a last resort,” Allen said. “We implore Fairpoint to rejoin their loyal employees back at the negotiating table and stay there until a fair contract resolution is reached.”
Allen was pleased to add Vermont-NEA to the list of unions donating to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America Solidarity Fund. The FairPoint IBEW workers do not have a dedicated strike fund; the CWA does have a strike fund.
“When workers strike for fair compensation, working conditions and benefits, it’s not just about them,” Allen said. “Our brothers and sisters walking the picket lines do so on behalf of all union members everywhere.” She pointed out that the striking workers have been without pay or health insurance coverage for many weeks now.
Vermont-NEA also noted that a special CWA Local 1400 wish list on amazon.com has been established, and Allen urged union members statewide to help the children of striking workers have presents under the tree this holiday season. The wish list has toys and other items costing less than $25.
Source: Vermont-NEA. Vermont Business Magazine. 12.10.2014