Granite State Debates, Governor: Fairpoint strike, other labor disputes The candidates for governor discuss the Fairpoint strike and how a governor should be involved in similar labor disputes. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT STRATEGY WITH A BALANCED BIPARTISAN BUDGET. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. THE NEXT QUESTION COMING FROM EDITH TUCKER. MR. HAVENSTEIN, ABOUT 2000 EMPLOYEES ARE ON STRIKE ACROSS NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WHO IS RIGHT IN THIS STANDOFF AND WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD HAVE IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS KIND OF DISPUTE? I THINK IT IS HARD TO TELL WHO IS RIGHT. BOTH SIDES HAVE A POSITION. THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE BARGAINING UNIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE YOU SEE AT FAIRPOINT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND MY PERSPECTIVE. MY PERSPECTIVE TENDS TO SIDE WITH THE VALUE ADDED PART OF THE BUSINESS. THAT IS THE EMPLOYEES. IT ALWAYS HAS WORKED WITH BARGAINING UNITS. PROBABLY 10% WERE BARGAINING UNIT EMPLOYEES. I RESPECTED THEIR RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE COMPANY, BECAUSE FOR US IT WAS THE RIGHT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, LABOR STRUCTURE, FOR THAT PART OF THE BUSINESS. MY TENDENCY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE DOING THE VALUE ADDED PART OF THE BUSINESS. GOVERNOR HASSAN, HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION ABOUT THE 2000 FAIRPOINT EMPLOYEES ON STRIKE AND THE ROLE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IN RESOLVING THE DISPUTE AND WHETHER YOU HAVE AN OPINION ON WHO IS RIGHT IN THESE ISSUES? I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE OUT ON STRIKE AS WE SPEAK, FACING REAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY. I HAVE LET THE COMPANY NO THAT I WOULD LIKE THEM ALL TO GET BACK TO THE BARGAINING TABLE. THEY SHOULD BOTH BE BARGAINING IN GOOD FAITH. WORKERS TELL US THEY HAVE OFFERED MULTIPLE CONCESSIONS TO HELP THE COMPANY REACHED ITS COST-CUTTING TARGETS. THESE ARE WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN HELPING FAIRPOINT RECOVER FROM BANKRUPTCY, WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO GET THE COMPANY BACK ON ITS FEET. THEY HAVE BEEN ASKED TO GIVE UP THEIR PASSIONS -- PENSIONS AND RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS. I WILL CONTINUE TO URGE THIS COMPANY TO THINK ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE-SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS AND

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