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IBEW, Frontier Negotiations Continue

April 13, 2011

After months of talks, the latest round of negotiations between Frontier Communications and IBEW workers in four states came to a close April 1 – with no tentative agreements on any proposals put forth by the two parties.

Talks now move into a new phase of negotiations after the March 26 expiration of the current contract, which covers nearly 1,000 technicians, administrative workers and other employees. IBEW and Frontier representatives will meet again at the table from April 11-21. Members will remain covered under the previous agreement as discussions continue.

Union negotiators are fending off company attacks on members of Durham, N.C., Local 289; Norwalk, Ohio, Local 986; Mason, Mich., Local 1106; and Sumter, S.C., 1431, who worked for Verizon before the company sold its rural landline services in 13 states to Frontier last year. Frontier’s current proposals include concessions and takebacks regarding wages, benefits, changes in overtime pay, schedule requests and other issues.

Said Local 1106 Business Manager Mike Brousseau, who is lead negotiator and chairman of System Council T-7, which has about 3,500 former Verizon workers nationwide:

The company believes that all of their concessionary proposals to diminish the level of benefits and working conditions are reasonable. Our bargaining committee has vehemently expressed its disgust with Frontier’s attempt to gut our contracts.

If Frontier and the IBEW do not reach an agreement by late April, discussions will move to federal mediation.

Brousseau said:

We need every member to support their bargaining committee throughout these contract negotiations.

The four locals help comprise the union’s System Council T-7.

Negotiators are also in talks to improve wages and benefits for members who are covered under the buried service wire agreement – a separate national contract for employees who lay and maintain wire underground.

Frontier purchased Verizon’s landlines in July 2010. Frontier has proven to be a successful company, avoiding the fate of FairPoint Communications, Inc., which acquired a chunk of Verizon’s landlines in 2008 before declaring bankruptcy the following year.