FairPoint Communications asked the Me. PUC to curb union particip...
FairPoint Communications asked the Me. PUC to curb union participation in PUC review of its acquisition of Verizon’s Me. landline assets. The CWA and IBEW, representing 1,200 Verizon Me. employees, have attacked the deal as harmful to ratepayers and…
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Me. economic growth, though FairPoint promised to retain current jobs and add 600, plus honor Verizon labor contracts. FairPoint (Case 2007-67) said union criticisms unfairly reached far beyond employment issues, marking efforts to kill the deal based on unsubstantiated general claims that FairPoint is too small and undercapitalized to run the Verizon network. FairPoint attorneys argued state law says PUC case intervenors can testify only on issues where their interests are “directly and substantially affected,” or where they have particular expertise. Unions, FairPoint said, have interest and expertise only on issues directly relating to labor, so union testimony should be limited to those areas. And, said FairPoint, the unions’ campaign against the deal and efforts to rally opponents taints any testimony they give, especially on non-labor merger issues. FairPoint officials termed the request normal for regulatory proceedings, but staffers with the Me. Public Advocate Office said attempts to limit an intervenor’s participation are unusual. They said FairPoint seems to wants to mute the unions and said they'd be surprised if the PUC goes along.