Nearly 2,000 members of the Electrical Workers (IBEW) and Communications Workers of America (CWA) have been on strike against FairPoint Communications since Oct. 17. Now some suspect the company may be offering replacement workers more than $300,000 a year to perform the same jobs the striking workers did for less than a third of that.

In a “confidential” posting on Monster.com, an unidentified company is offering telecom workers $5,000 to $6,000 a week (plus a $135 a day per diem) to work in northern New England. The striking workers of FairPoint provide service in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. See the full ad here.

Peter McLaughlin, IBEW Local 2327 business manager, said:

FairPoint has been saying we make too much money, but now it looks like they’re offering people more than three times what we make. Instead of settling a fair deal with its skilled workers, FairPoint is squandering tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars on replacement workers who can’t do our jobs.

The ad calls for workers who “are comfortable working at customer premise locations including large banks, hospitals, cellular towers, etc.​” FairPoint maintains service at all those locations. CWA Local 1400 President Don Trementozzi said:

It looks like FairPoint is finally learning the real value of its experienced workforce. They know what we’re worth. It’s time for them to stop wasting money on unqualified workers from out of state and reach a fair deal for New England.

FairPoint walked away from the bargaining table in August and imposed conditions on its last contract offer that:

Froze the pensions of the nearly 2,000 employees who build, maintain and service vital telecommunications infrastructure throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Stopped providing retiree health care and support for child and elder care.

Implemented a new health care plan that will cost hundreds of dollars more per month and provide less coverage for workers and their families.

FairPoint, a North Carolina-based company largely owned by Wall Street hedge funds, also implemented a controversial measure that lets it outsource work to contractors outside New England and overseas. It also has cut off health insurance for the striking workers and their families.

In a Nov. 18 federal mediation session, FairPoint refused to modify any of its demands. Said McLaughlin:

The company just had no interest in working with us.

For more information, go to FairnessAtFairPoint.com and visit Fairness at FairPoint on Facebook.