Like the Sun Journal’s editorial, “Wrong Number for MCI,” Sen. Susan Collins’ efforts to have the General Services Administration bar MCI from government contracts misses an important point. MCI employs skilled telecommunications professionals in Maine, and provides good-paying jobs – the sort of jobs that are all too rare in Maine. MCI employees around the state provide vital services to every federal agency mentioned (and others).

Beyond that, MCI’s sales and operations people here support both Maine companies and the Maine-based workers of other companies.

Over the past three to four years, we’ve endured endless layoffs and cost-cutting, watched friends and co-workers lose jobs, seen pay and benefits freeze, and had our 401Ks decimated. Those who have survived so far are scared, anxious and angry. If the potential loss of another score of good-paying Maine jobs doesn’t give pause to those calling for MCI’s disbarment or even dissolution, at least consider the impact to the federal agencies we now serve. We provide world-class service to these agencies, and take pride in our work.

MCI’s low-level employees have been abused and punished enough already. We should not be punished for the sins of a now-departed corporate leadership.

Charles J. Hoff, Rumford