STRIKING FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS Maureen Berry, left, of Saco, and Joan Tsotsones of Portland, hold a sign denouncing corporate greed as workers picket Friday, Oct. 17, outside a company operations center in Portland. More than 1,700 FairPoint Communications workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont went on strike demanding that the company return to the bargaining table.
A federal mediator on Tuesday coaxed FairPoint Communications and striking workers in northern New England back to the negotiating table.
The first meeting since FairPoint declared an impasse in late August will be held on Nov. 18 in Boston.
Officials said the mediator reached out to both sides.
Peter McLaughlin, chairman of the unions’ bargaining committee, said unions representing more than 1,700 workers are looking for common ground, “and we urge the company to return to the table in the same spirit.”
FairPoint spokeswoman Angelynne Amores Beaudry said the company is maintaining an open line of communication.
Workers in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine went on strike on Oct. 17. A company-imposed contract has frozen the old pension plan and requires workers to contribute to health care costs for the first time. Other provisions allow the company to hire contractors and eliminate retiree health care benefits for current workers.
FairPoint workers and supporters are scheduled to hold a rally in Portland on Saturday.
The company is seeking about $700 million in contract concessions. Union negotiators want to limit their losses to about $200 million.
Health premiums have been a big sticking point in the talks. The company now pays 100 percent of monthly health premiums and wants to shift about 20 percent of that cost onto workers.
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