Frontier Bargaining Report

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. The Union and the Company met on July 9, 10, 14, 15, 23, and on July 24, 2015, a MOA was reached to extend the current CBA. The Union was able to secure jobs, a no-layoff agreement for the duration of the extension, a GWI, and the bringing back of jobs to the USA, that Verizon sent offshore, as well as other items. We were also able to address some MOAs in the current CBA as well as policies Verizon has implemented and have made improvements in them.

On July 27, 2015, Local 6171’s bargaining committee was advised of the MOA and a call to go over the specifics of it is set for Thursday, July 30, followed by a call with their E-board that evening. Also that evening, the Missouri membership will be covered over their MOA. On Friday, July 31, 2015, there will be a Town Hall call for the membership to hear the explanation of the MOA and be able to submit questions to be answered. Please get with your local leadership to receive the call-in information if you have not seen the flyer. We believe this is a fair and just MOA and in line with the other MOAs that have been reached with Frontier in other areas.