Renee Dugas, a 17-year employee, left, joins other FairPoint workers on a picket line in front of the company at 5 Davis Farm Road in Portland on Friday.
The unions had authorized a strike in July, but union leadership had tried to avoid that course of action. The decision for workers to strike was made around 7 p.m. Thursday, and Fairpoint employees took to the streets near the Portland office early Friday morning.
Fairpoint workers on Friday strike march at corner of Davis Farm and Riverside roads in Portland after a walkout at midnight from Fairpoint Communicationslocations around Northern New England.
FairPoint workers picket near a company dispatch center off Industrial Street in Waterville on Friday morning.
FairPoint workers picket at the corner of Industrial Street and Armory Road in Waterville on Friday morning.
FairPoint workers strike outside building on State Street in Augusta Friday morning.
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, addresses FairPoint workers on the picket line in Portland on Friday.
U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Portland, greets FairPoint workers as they walk a picket line in front of the company at 5 Davis Farm Road in Portland on Friday.
FairPoint workers on strike and picketing applaud U.S. Rep. Chelli Pingree, D-Maine, who spoke in support of strikers in Portland on Friday.
Kandy Sue Sheehan, right, waves at honking cars as she stands with FairPoint workers who are on strike and picketing at the corner of Davis Farm Road and Riverside Street in Portland on Friday.
FairPoint workers on strike march past a puddle from Thursday night's rainfall at the corner of Davis Farm Road and Riverside Street in Portland on Friday.
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