Patrick On Fidelity Job Cuts: 'Say That To My Face'

Gov. Deval Patrick said Friday he plans to meet with Fidelity Investments to discuss the company's decision to close its Marlborough offices and move more than 1,000 jobs from Massachusetts.

"There's a conversation we're going to have to have," Patrick said. "Just back to this point about partnership that I've been trying to have with Fidelity since the first few weeks that I've been in this job."

Patrick says he has had problems communicating with Fidelity since his first weeks as governor.

Patrick acknowledged that he was "not hopeful" of reversing Fidelity's decision, but he wants company leaders to "say that to my face."

He says he’s frustrated because Fidelity leadership was in his office during the period when he believes they were mulling the job cuts.

"Not once did Fidelity give us a chance to compete for those jobs," he said. "It takes two people to partner."

Patrick met with reporters at the State House for the first time since wrapping up a 10-day overseas trade mission, which he says was successful and productive. Fidelity officials planned to accompany Patrick on the British leg of his trip, but he says Fidelity pulled out last week.

Patrick said the timing of Fidelity's announcement did not detract from his efforts during the trip to bring jobs to Massachusetts and he also pointed to a drop in the state's unemployment rate to 8.2 percent in February.

While critics say the governor's trade mission was short on substance, Patrick said the trip resulted in "exciting business relationships" and that he expected a couple of companies to make commitments to Massachusetts in the coming weeks.

With additional reporting from The Associated Press.

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