Union Campaign Improves Verizon-FairPoint Deal

Earlier this year, telecom regulators in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine approved the sale of Verizon Communications operations in northern New England to FairPoint Communications. Verizon workers united in either CWA or IBEW waged a vigorous campaign to oppose the sale. While the sale was allowed to go forward, it resulted in real improvements in the final deal that will help support quality service.

"One clear result of the effort by union members, concerned elected officials, community groups, and thousands of residents and activists is that an additional $970 million - the sum of Verizon's contributions of $362 million and FairPoint's commitments of $610 million as required by regulators as a condition of the sale - will help make FairPoint a stronger operation," said CWA President Larry Cohen. This includes a requirement that FairPoint cut its dividends by at least $200 million in order to reduce its debt.

Even with this added financial support, "CWA continues to believe that northern New England would have been better served by the establishment of an independent company, one that would operate without the huge debt load that burdens FairPoint, or by the sale of Verizon lines to an established company that would be capable of bringing true high speed broadband to the region. As it stands, the benefits of true high speed Internet networks - the economic engine of the 21st century - simply won't be available to many businesses and consumers in this region," said Cohen.

CWA and IBEW urged that the deal be rejected because of FairPoint's weak financial position and uncertainty over its ability to invest in quality services and good jobs in the region. The unions took their message to the public through radio and print ads, membership rallies, postcard drives and online petitions to governors and lawmakers.

About 2,500 members of CWA and the IBEW are now employed by FairPoint Communications.

AT&T is the only union wireless company in America.

By using AT&T, you're supporting the only union wireless company in America. Almost 40,000 wireless employees are united in the Communications Workers of America.

Thousands of AT&T workers joined CWA by taking advantage of the company's policy of remaining neutral in organizing drives and voluntarily recognizing the union when a majority of workers in a location sign union authorization cards.

Unfortunately, others in this industry have taken the low road when it comes to labor relations. Workers at Verizon Wireless would like the benefits of union representation, but they are subjected to intense management surveillance and coercion, including firings and even office closures to block unionization.

You can learn more about the differences about how AT&T and Verizon Wireless treat their workers at http://www.taleof2companies.com.