(AP) Unions representing FairPoint Communications workers in northern New England say they view its potential $1.5 billion sale to an Illinois-based broadband and business communications company with cautious optimism.
Union leaders said Monday they’re looking closely at Mattoon based Consolidated Communications’ finances, technical capacity and history of labor relations and the regulatory requirements for the sale.
The agreement and proposed merger have been approved by the boards of directors at Consolidated and at Charlotte, North Carolinabased FairPoint. The deal’s expected to close by mid-2017.
FairPoint’s largest network is in northern New England, where FairPoint said last month it was laying off at least 110 workers because of a downturn in its traditional telephone service.
The statement came from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers System and Communications Workers of America, representing more than 1,500 workers.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less