Frontier Communications and District 6, at the direction of CWA President Chris Shelton and District Vice President Claude Cummings, Jr., entered into Effects Bargaining regarding the current Verizon CBAs for Texas and Missouri on July 9, 2015 in hopes of reaching a MOA to extend the current CBAs and obtain some enhancements. Sylvia J. Ramos, Assistant to the District 6 Vice President, and Tony Shaffer, CWA Staff Representative, were the negotiating advocates for the Union. Ken Conner, President of Local 6171 and Mike Mehringer, President of Local 6300, were consulted on this and their respective bargaining committees were asked to provide items to be addressed at the table. On July 9, the Union kicked off Effects Bargaining with Frontier.