Consolidated Communications, Inc. Bargaining 2011: October 14, 2011

We have resumed bargaining this week and even though we have made some minor progress, the Company continues to press forward with some key unrealistic demands with drastic changes to both health care and our pensions still on the table.

The Company reintroduced their title flexibility language that they had previously withdrawn knowing that the Union was not interested in combining the Splicing and I&R titles. If their proposal would bring work back into the bargaining unit from contractors, we would be much more open to some increased title flexibility. But, Consolidated Communications cannot guarantee that we will maintain our current head count or workload. This is a key issue and we have continued to see our bargaining unit erode since this company has taken over North Pittsburgh Telephone.

The Company is not happy with the progress at the bargaining table–neither are we. They have heard our concerns over and over. We are not making major demands, we want to maintain the level of benefits that we have fought so many years to gain.

This is a frustrating time but standing strong and unified will get us a fair contract. The Company’s ongoing demand for concessions has put us in this situation, not the Union, not the members.

Stand Strong • Stand United