Bargaining Report #40: Frontier Communications

The Union and the Company met today.

The Company made a proposal to eliminate the protection on the movement of work in the current agreement. The Company also proposed to maintain the no layoff language for only those members with a net credited service date prior to August 2, 2003. The Union requested documentation on the Tuition Assistance proposal made by the Company at the last meeting.

Finally, after fifteen weeks and two extensions, the Company has indicated that other than their wage proposal they have their agenda on the table. A highlight of the Company’s proposals on the table is as follows:

• Eliminate premium time on Sunday for Consultants and Operators.

• Reduce incidental absences to 10 paid days.

• Eliminate double time for all employees.

• Eliminate carryover vacation.

• Reduce differential payouts.

• Eliminate 401k match for current employees.

• Call-Out proposal that includes forcing and disciplining members as well as giving more work to contractors.

• Shift costs of benefits to active and future retirees.

• Reduce short term disability coverage from 52 weeks to 26 weeks.

• Change pension cash out calculation to the less favorable PPA rate.

• Eliminate broadband agreement allowing contractors to transfer fiber.

• Reduce Consultants hourly wages

• Move all employees to 40 hour work week with no wage increase.

• Set $8,000 cap on Tuition Assistance.

The Union and the Company Bargaining Chairpersons are scheduled to meet off-table on Tuesday. Formal bargaining is scheduled to resume Wednesday October 16, 2013.

BE INFORMED! BE INVOLVED! IT’S YOUR FIGHT! IT’S YOUR CONTRACT!