(Host) FairPoint Communications says it will lay off 400 people over the next several months to help reduce its expenses.
The company says both management and union-covered workers will lose their jobs. FairPoint says the layoffs will save the company $34 million a year.
FairPoint’s Vermont president, Mike Smith, says staff in the state will be affected.
(Smith) "Over the course of the next few months we’ll be reducing our 600-person work force in Vermont by approximately 55 positions. That will be spread across the entire organization here in Vermont."
(Host) Smith says the notifications to staff will begin soon and will continue until FairPoint reduces the work force.
FairPoint workers have been in the field for almost two weeks now fixing damages caused by the floods.
Smith says none of that work will be affected by the layoffs.
(Smith) "Every day customers count on us to be connected. And we take that commitment very seriously. So, given the size of the change in terms of the reduction and over a time period that these reductions are being made, I think the impact of our restoration efforts will be minimal."
(Host) FairPoint says it will offer severance or incentive payments to affected staff.