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Published Way Down Join us on Twitter East @TheCalaisAdv Like us on Established in 1836 Facebook VOL. 179, NO. 34 AUGUST 21, 2014 © 2014 The Calais Advertiser Inc. $1.50 (tax included) Still No End in Sight for Unions, Fairpoint Negotiations By Jayna Smith be still no end in sight to the been working under the terms they went through bankruptcy time went on and the union negotiations. of the expired contract which (in 2009), that’s what bought got the books, the company Union leaders from Interna- Four Fairpoint workers re- was good for five years, ac- up the debt, the stock.” said they don’t really need (the tional Brotherhood of Electrical port in Calais: three installation cording to LaPointe, “because The union, according to $720,000,000), they want that. Workers and the Communica- and maintenance technicians (the contract) took the transi- LaPointe, recently presented They basically want to be able tions Workers of America— and one central office (CO) tion from Verizon to Fairpoint” $188,000,000 worth of sav- to contract work out when they together representing nearly technician. Ed LaPointe of under the sale in 2008. ings but Fairpoint declined. want,” he said. This will result 2,000 Fairpoint Communica- Calais is the CO technician. He “ T h e c o m p a n y w a n t s “(Fairpoint) said they needed in contracting out the existing tions employees in the three began his career in 1982 with $720,000,000 in concessions to have the $720,000,000. As (continued on page 2) states of Maine, New Hamp- Bell Atlantic which preceded and basically they don’t want shire, and Vermont—have both Verizon and Fairpoint to deal with the union contract been in contract negotiations Communications. Throughout at all,” LaPointe explained. with Fairpoint Communica- Washington County, LaPointe “They don’t want the costs. tions since April. With union reported, there are approxi- This company is owned pri- contracts having expired on mately 15 Fairpoint employees. marily by five or six hedge August 2nd, there seems to All of these employees have funds in New York City. After Students Benefit from Recent Summer Science Program These 24 students from Beatrice Rafferty and Indian Township Schools recently completed a two-week science program offered by Maine Indian Education in conjunction with MIT and Fairpoint employee Ed LaPointe displays a "Fair Deal at Fairpoint" Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. (See story on page 2). sign in his vehicle in support of his union contract. AOS 77 Superintendent Remains on Job By Ruth Leubecker “I absolutely have not re- for tackling nearly $68,000 in year we have to find further be,” he said. “But they must signed,” Underwood, who school budget cuts. areas to cut the budget,” said happen.” Contrary to several reports started his career in the system However, 110 residents vot- Underwood last week. “At this Tom Critchley, school board of those attending Robbin- as principal of Union 106 in ed 70 to 40 against the board’s point, this is my responsibility chair, has tendered his resigna- ston’s recent referendum vote, 2004, has been superintendent proposed recommendations. as well as the school board’s tion, as well as Brenda Dono- AOS 77 Superintendent Jim of AOS 77 since 2010, when Due to the defeat of the school responsibility.” van, Robbinston’s teaching Underwood has not resigned 106 joined Union 104 and board’s budget proposal, the According to Underwood, principal. Qualified applicants from his position. SAD 19 to form the AOS. Robbinston school administra- those further areas amount to may apply for Robbinston’s “It was a huge mistake. I did In a town meeting held tors must come up with further about $40,000 in additional teaching principal position by not resign,” Underwood said on August 4 the Robbinston cuts on their own. cuts. “I have no idea at this calling 853-2567. last week. school board presented its plan “Within the upcoming school point where those cuts will DARE TO COMPARE OUR PRICE$! Generic Cymbalta - Any Strength Qty. 30 - $95 Ex. Metoprolol - HCTZ - Lisinopril Generic Singulair - 10MG Qty. 30 - $2.99 Qty. 30 - $2.99 / Qty. 90 - $8.99 Qty. 90 - $7.99 Call us for details. Prices subject to change. 333 Main Street, Calais, ME • 207-454-3100 • 800-734-7084 PAGE 2 Students Benefit from Recent Summer Science Program By Jayna Smith students. “It was a hands-on ity, did a lot of exploration, and their samples and gained an Cook Aquaculture where the program that focused on the took a lot of measurements,” understanding of the relation- students got a first-hand look Maine Indian Education re- resources here and we hoped Dean explained. “They did ship between those organisms at the fish pens. cently teamed up with Massa- it would be a positive event a good job understanding the and the clams harvested in the Finally, toward the end of chusetts Institute of Technol- for the children.” Not only resources available at the Ref- area and what a delicate bal- the two-weeks, the students ogy (MIT) to offer students did the students have fun, the uge.” ance exists between the two. worked together in groups from Indian Township School transition into high school, During the second week, the The students even embarked putting together presentations and Beatrice Rafferty School Dean explained, would be an students toured Calais’ water on a schooner trip during their of what was learned. Dean an opportunity to enhance easier one with the exposure and sewer treatment facility. two weeks of educational ad- was very pleased with both the their science knowledge. of this type of science to the “We wanted the students to venture. Dean said, “We gave turnout of students and the suc- About half of the students students. understand not only what hap- them a great sense of Quoddy cess of the events. “I was very from both schools who are en- The program has been in pens out in the wild, but also Bay and the St. Croix River by excited that we had that many tering grades 6, 7, and 8 took the works for only six months, how water and water qual- going on a schooner trip—the students sign up. The teachers part in a two-week day camp with planning and organizing ity are supported in the city,” Ada C. Lore. They spent the have all been great and many which involved hands-on ex- between Maine Indian Educa- Dean said. morning seeing the bay and kids are already looking for- perimenting, testing, and ana- tion, MIT, and the Moosehorn A trip to Eastport’s bay was what was there.” He added ward to next year,” Dean said, lyzing of local water resources National Wildlife Refuge. It also included on the agenda. that Abby Pond, executive di- but first, those who attended in the area. was during the first week when Students took water samples rector of the St. Croix Water- on a regular basis this year will Harper Dean of Maine In- the students spent time at the and analyzed them at the Cob- way Commission, “gave great have the opportunity to take dian Education explained Refuge doing data collecting scook Bay Resource Center. commentary” to the students an over-night educational field that this was the first year for and analyzing. “The children It was there where the group while on the trip. The East- trip in the fall to visit MIT and such an opportunity for the did a lot of tests for water qual- looked for phytoplankton in port trip ended with a tour of Harvard. Still No End in Sight for Unions, Fairpoint Negotiations (continued from page 1) to do. We’re not asking for is what they will get and that’s Director of Corporate Com- Calais) because we’re kind of anything, other than we want it.” Health benefits will be munications at Fairpoint, removed from negotiations.” jobs at a much lower cost, for to keep what we have, which affected as well. “(Fairpoint) Angelynne Amores Beaudry LaPointe feels the current “basically about minimum to me, that’s not really unfair wants to do away with health confirmed that contracting situation definitely has an ef- wage,” LaPointe stated. to ask for.” benefits for us. I haven’t seen negotiating began in April and fect on consumers. “Typically “(Fairpoint) wants to be able LaPointe also reported that the proposal that they are giv- since that time, Fairpoint has what happens in a work stop- to outsource work, basically Fairpoint wants to freeze the ing but it’s nowhere near what met “about 22 times with the page, orders get put on a back bring someone in to do my existing pensions. “There’s we have now,” LaPointe said. union and we have said to them burner and it’s basically keep- job,” he said. When asked if a couple of guys around that Last Wednesday and Thurs- on several occasions, ‘Here are ing people in service, troubles this meant cutting back hours haven’t been here long enough day union representatives met our current issues we need to get done first. Of course the or laying him or others off, to really get a pension yet and with Fairpoint in South Port- work on.’ work force is drastically re- LaPointe replied, “We’re not they won’t have one. If some- land. LaPointed reported, “The “The company currently duced. They’d be hoping for really sure. Rather than hiring body has 15 years and they union gave the company a pro- pays 100% of healthcare, 100% really good weather because in people, like they had promised work another 15 years on top posal Thursday.