Vermont Business Magazine FairPoint Communications in a statement issued a statementreiteratingits commitment to providing high-quality customer service as it implements and ramps up its contingency plans during the strike by two unions that began last Friday.FairPoint said it isconcerned with activities and incidents that have alarmed individuals and obstructed customer service. Meanwhile, the unions, representing more than 1,700 workers, said they are unaware of any inappropriate activity on the part of their members, which they would address if true, butthat FairPoint has failed to provide specific information on its claims.
FairPoint'sstatement reads:
"FairPoint's first commitment is to the safety of our customers and employees all across northern New England. As our unionized workers strike, we are fully engaged in executing our contingency plans to ensure continuity of customer service. We are mobilizing qualified and highly skilled managers, non-union employees and contractors to meet service needs and safeguard our networks. We expect our contingency plans to be fully implemented shortly, and the company greatly appreciates customer patience and understanding at this time.
Striking workers outside the Vermont headquarters in South Burlington. VBM photo
"FairPoint is concerned with activities to disrupt services and intimidate employees and customers and is taking steps to ensure these activities are stopped. It is critical for customers and especially emergency personnel to have communication capabilities.
"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. We have taken steps to stop this phone jamming activity and prevent it from occurring again so that customer call centers can more promptly address customer needs.
"In addition, while FairPoint respects the employees' right to strike, we cannot allow any actions that threaten the safety of our employees or the service needs of our customers. 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. This type of activity creates a dangerous environment for customers and workers. We have also confirmed reports of intimidation of small, local businesses with which we do business.
"The Company has sent a letter to union leadership regarding this conduct and has asked them to take action to stop any of their members who may be responsible for these activities immediately.
"Once again, we would like to extend our appreciation to customers for their patience and understanding as we continue to execute on our contingency plans to ensure continuity of service. We are expecting heavy rains across northern New England over the next several days and those rains may cause system disruptions. As our managers, non-union employees and contingent workforce ramp to capacity to address the needs of our customers, we are deploying all available resources to prepare for and respond to any storm related impact."
The unions statement reads:
"Union leaders responded to FairPoint’s public statement suggesting that some unnamed individuals are engaged in “phone jamming activity,” saying that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Communications Workers of America are absolutely unaware of any persons or organizations intentionally jamming FairPoint call center lines through automated means. Union leaders have asked FairPoint to provide any specific information or evidence regarding these allegations so that they may investigate the Company’s claims.
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"As to the allegations regarding the unions’ picketing activities, the company has similarly failed to provide any information or evidence as to when and where any union member has engaged in any unlawful conduct. The law provides that unions may lawfully and peacefully picket at company facilities and any other work site where union work is being performed. The goal of such picketing is to send a message regarding the company’s unfair labor practices to the managers and out-of-state replacement workers who have come into our communities to take local workers’ jobs. The unions deeply regret any inconvenience this picketing activity may cause to FairPoint customers. The suggestion that the unions would seek to intimidate our neighbors and friends in the communities where we live and work is outrageous and unfounded.
"Prior to the strike action, the unions carefully trained our members about their federally-protected rights to engage in peaceful picketing activity. We will continue to work hard to ensure that our labor action is safe and respectful to our neighbors and friends throughout Northern New England, but 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.
"The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) System Council T9 includes local unions in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont and represents nearly 1,700 employees at FairPoint Communications. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1400 represents nearly 300 FairPoint employees in the three states. For more information, visit www.fairnessatfairpoint.com."
SOURCES: FairPoint Communications, Inc. Fairness at FairPoint. 10.21.2014