IBEW Local 2320

The second annual 2320 Cope Bowling Tournament will take place on April 21^st 2012 at Merrimack Ten Pin in Merrimack, NH. Stay tuned for sign-up and sponsorship information.

As we encounter the first snowstorm of 2012, remember to keep safety first and make it last!

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At Christmas

Edgar Albert Guest

A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year;
He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season is here;
Then he’s thinking more of others than he’s thought the months before,
And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for.
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;
When the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime.

When it’s Christmas man is bigger and is better in his part;
He is keener for the service that is prompted by the heart.
All the petty thoughts and narrow seem to vanish for awhile
And the true reward he’s seeking is the glory of a smile.
Then for others he is toiling and somehow it seems to me
That at Christmas he is almost what God wanted him to be.

If I had to paint a picture of a man I think I’d wait
Till he’d fought his selfish battles and had put aside his hate.
I’d not catch him at his labors when his thoughts are all of pelf,
On the long days and the dreary when he’s striving for himself.
I’d not take him when he’s sneering, when he’s scornful or depressed,
But I’d look for him at Christmas when he’s shining at his best.

Man is ever in a struggle and he’s oft misunderstood;
There are days the worst that’s in him is the master of the good,
But at Christmas kindness rules him and he puts himself aside
And his petty hates are vanquished and his heart is opened wide.
Oh, I don’t know how to say it, but somehow it seems to me
That at Christmas man is almost what God sent him here to be.

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The Union and the Company met on Tuesday to finalize discussions on the Force Adjustment Plan.  The Union and the Company reached an agreement which allows all IPP-B volunteers to leave the property on December 16^th.   The unselected IPP-B positions will be filled through a combination of bids and backfills by existing temporary employees within the same job titles.

The Company adamantly refused to offer any of the outstanding job vacancies to the remaining temporary members and notified the Union that the remaining temps at 875 Holt Ave. will be job completed on December 30^th.  What went unanswered was the question of how the Company expects to keep its’ DSL customers, as the bulk of the job completed temporary employees are currently assigned to the BSSG work group.

It is important to note that the Company appears to have no interest in customer service.  It is readily apparent that the Company is focused on cutting jobs and screwing their employees.  Fairpoint can say whatever they want … be it through calls to investors or hokey rah-rah calls to employees.  The corporate leadership of this Company has zero credibility and should not be trusted.

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The Union and the Company will meet on Tuesday, December 13^th to discuss the Force Adjustment Plan. Items for discussion should include the status of Temps, the disposition of the remaining vacancies and whether the IPP-B’s, whose jobs were not chosen in the job call, will be able to retire. Updates will be placed on this website.

IBEW member Larry Caruso is the new Union/Company Benefits Coordinator, serving union members and management lackeys alike. Larry can be reached for all benefit issues at 603-425-0063.

The Union and the Company are jointly sponsoring the annual Toys for Tots Holiday drive. Donation boxes are located in the cafeteria at 875 Holt Avenue, on the 2^nd floor at 100 Gay Street, on the 16^th floor at 900 Elm Street, in the Keene garage at Bradco Ave and here at the union hall. We are collecting unwrapped toys for children in need and the last collection date is December 19^th. If you are able, please take the time to make a kid smile.

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