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Contract Negotiations Begin at Frontier Communications in West Virginia and Virginia
Charleston, W.Va. — Negotiations opened today between the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and Frontier Communications on a new contract covering approximately 1,400 CWA-represented employees in West Virginia and Ashburn, Va.
The negotiations come at a critical time for the company, which emerged from bankruptcy in April 2021. West Virginia is slated to receive $950 million from the bipartisan federal infrastructure bill to invest in expanding broadband internet access to locations across the state.
An estimated 29 percent of West Virginia households and businesses lack high-speed internet, and fewer than 20 percent of locations are served by reliable, future-proof fiber connections.
“It’s time for Frontier executives to step up for their employees and for all West Virginians,” said Brandon Simmons, a Frontier cable splicing technician and president of CWA Local 2105. “That means using their experienced union workforce to build fiber connections to as many homes and businesses as possible instead of bringing in temporary workers and subcontractors who often do not have adequate training and put the public in harm’s way. It means providing benefits and compensation that reflect our contributions to the company.”
Frontier members in West Virginia and Ashburn, Va., went on strike for three weeks in 2018 in order to reach an agreement that ensured that they would be able to provide quality service and keep good jobs in their communities.
“Five years after our strike, we have the same priorities at Frontier in West Virginia and Virginia,” said Ed Mooney, Vice President of CWA District 2-13. “Our message is simple: we want a contract that supports quality jobs so we can deliver quality service.”
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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.