CWA says yes to new Frontier contract

Members of the Communication Workers of America ratified a new contract with Frontier Communications the union announced Thursday. The four-year deal is retroactive to last August.

“While it (negotiating time) was lengthy, at the end of the day we were able to get a contract that the rank and file did ratify and now we just get on with the business of taking care of our customers,” CWA Representative Elaine Harris said.

The approximately 1,500 workers in West Virginia worked under the terms of the old contract through extensions during the past year. The union has decided not to release many specifics about the new deal which stretches until Aug. 5, 2017. Harris said there was some give and take.

“That’s why they call it negotiations because it is the parties sitting down, the union coming to the table and the company,” Harris said.

It’s believed the main sticking point during the year-plus contract talks was health care and how much union members were going to have to pay.

Harris said most importantly because of determination Frontier jobs are staying in West Virginia.

“We want West Virginia workers to serve our West Virginia customers,” she said. “Through this agreement we will be able to do that and expand on that.”