{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shaheen-kuster-urge-resolution-of-fairpoint-labor-dispute", "Shaheen, Kuster Urge Resolution of Fairpoint Labor Dispute", "2014-12-22", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) in a letter today called on FairPoint Communications Chief Executive Officer Paul Sunu and the FairPoint Communications management team to return to the bargaining table and resolve the ongoing labor disagreement that has led to 2000 FairPoint employees striking across New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. The strike that began October 17 has led to disrupted service for customers throughout the region, including for police departments, fire departments, health care providers and schools, jeopardizing emergency communications and critical public safety services.\u00a0\n\u201cWith the onset of winter weather increasing the potential for further damage to FairPoint\u2019s network, we strongly urge you to return to the negotiating table and finalize a new contract,\u201d Shaheen and Kuster\u00a0wrote. \u201cReaching a new contract agreement with the striking workers will enable experienced, dedicated FairPoint personnel to return to their jobs and begin the critical task of repairing the telecommunications infrastructure that is vital to public safety in New Hampshire.\u201d\u00a0\nSince the strike started more than two months ago, the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission has received nearly 500 complaints from customers in New Hampshire reporting service issues.\nThe full text of Shaheen and Kuster's letter is included below:\nDecember 22, 2014\nPaul H. Sunu  \n\tChief Executive Officer  \n\tFairPoint Communications  \n\t521 E Morehead Street, Suite 500  \n\tCharlotte, NC 28202\nDear Mr. Sunu:\nWe write to encourage you and your management team to return to the bargaining table to negotiate a reasonable compromise with FairPoint workers in northern New England that will bring an end to their two-month long strike.\nSince FairPoint workers went on strike on October 17, the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission has received nearly 500 complaints from FairPoint customers around the state about service outages, lack of information and unduly long waits for repairs.\u00a0 Clearly, FairPoint\u2019s impasse with its workers is having a negative impact on both the company and its customers.\u00a0 In fact, problems with FairPoint\u2019s network since the strike began have not only affected residential customers, but have also caused service outages for police departments, fire departments, health care providers and schools throughout the state, jeopardizing emergency communications and critical public safety services.\u00a0\nWith the onset of winter weather increasing the potential for further damage to FairPoint\u2019s network, we strongly urge you to return to the negotiating table and finalize a new contract.\u00a0 Reaching a new contract agreement with the striking workers will enable experienced, dedicated FairPoint personnel to return to their jobs and begin the critical task of repairing the telecommunications infrastructure that is vital to public safety in New Hampshire.\u00a0\nWhen FairPoint took over Verizon\u2019s New Hampshire network in 2008, the company made repeated, public commitments to work collaboratively with its unionized workforce and to maintain their benefits and compensation.\u00a0 We urge you to continue to uphold these commitments, to resume contract negotiations, and to reach a fair agreement that ends this strike and enables FairPoint\u2019s employees to resume earning good wages and providing quality service to customers in New Hampshire.\nSincerely,\nJeanne Shaheen  \n\tUnited States Senator\nAnn McLane Kuster  \n\tMember of Congress\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shaheen-kuster-urge-resolution-of-fairpoint-labor-dispute"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8339958731085062, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}