FairPoint Communications is assuring telephone and Internet customers that the company has plans in place to deal with the strike by more than 1,700 workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Company spokeswoman Angelynne Amores Beaudry also says this morning the company remains willing to listen to any union proposal that "meaningfully addresses the core issues of these negotiations."
The company declared an impasse in negotiations in late August. The company-imposed contract has frozen worker pensions and requires them to contribute to their health care costs for the first time.
The strike, authorized months ago, began early Friday after union officials met with company officials in Boston.
Peter McLaughlin from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers says the unions have offered "significant concessions," but the company isn't interested.