November 4, 2011 

Frontier and CWA in contract dispute over 'legacy' workers 

By Megan Workman


The contract has been extended twice since its initial expiration date, 
said Elaine Harris, a union spokeswoman.

Legacy employees are those who worked for Frontier before it purchased Verizon's 
landline business in West Virginia in July 2010. More than 1,600 former Verizon-
West Virginia employees are covered by a separate agreement that expires in 2013, 
according to the union. Page wouldn't comment other than to say the company hopes 
to reach a contract agreement at "some point."

"We're not unreasonable but what has been offered is not acceptable," Harris said. 
"We'll continue to evaluate it and to call up on the people higher up in the 
company ... to say this is important to my constituents and to people in West Virginia."

Frontier's West Virginia union legacy employees make about $6 per hour less 
than the former Verizon employees who now work for Frontier, according to Harris. 
Acknowledging that they are clearly different contracts, Harris said the union 
has not asked for a contract like former Verizon employees, they just want a fair deal.

Although Page would not discuss any details concerning the contract, Harris said 
the company is demanding concessions, including significant increases to employees' 
health-care costs over the next three years and raising rates for retirees who 
are often on fixed incomes.

"We're asking for public support to say, 'We're here. We want to continue to make 
the company successful' ... but there's got to be some acknowledgement of the workers 
and looking for some fairness here," Harris said. "We're hoping that by calling up on 
the higher levels of the company and saying, 'Look at this,' [we can] hammer out an 
agreement that is satisfactory to these employees, our members, and then we can 
continue working on the things that are important to our customers in West Virginia."

Until then, Harris said, the CWA will continue to negotiate until certain provisions 
are in place.

"It's unfortunate that Frontier's own workers cannot feel safe and secure, especially 
in this economic environment," Harris said in a statement issued on Friday. "Our members 
are the ones who are servicing 500 new business customers, expanding the broadband 
network in the state, and are ready 24/7 to provide emergency repairs when disasters strike. 
These workers ensure the company's success and now Frontier management is trying to force 
them to accept an unfair deal."

The union reported that in the aftermath of the sale, the Frontier board of directors 
awarded their top five executives with bonuses and stock awards totaling $5.4 million. 
Page had no comment.

CEO Maggie Wilderotter received a 77 percent increase in her compensation in 2010 alone, 
according to the union.

At a recent address to Wall Street investors, Wilderotter said, "They are hitting on all 
cylinders in West Virginia, both on the residential side and the business side," according 
to a CWA statement. 

She went on to assure stockholders their annual dividends are "safe and secure," according 
to the union.


Reach Megan Workman at megan.work...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5113.