By Tom Bell

FairPoint Communications on Tuesday froze the pensions of nearly 2,000 employees in northern New England, according to unions representing the employees.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Communications Workers of America had been in negotiations for a new contract until talks ended in August when the company announced an impasse, paving the way for an employee lockout or strike.

The unions represent nearly 800 FairPoint workers in Maine.

The company has already stopped providing retiree health care and support for child and elder care, the unions said in a news release on Tuesday.

Source: http://www.pressherald.com/2014/10/14/fairpoint-freezing-pensions-of-union-workers/