Frontier union OKs walkout when contract ends

Frontier Communications workers in Connecticut authorized its union leaders to call a strike if contract negotiations with the Norwalk company remain at an impasse beyond midOctober.

Some 2,100 workers are covered under the contract set to expire, with Frontier negotiating with the Communications Workers of America Local 1298 on compensation and benefits, as well as severance that could be offered in any buyouts. Neither side has disclosed the number of jobs Frontier aims to cut in Connecticut through buyouts.

All but 7 percent of CWA Local 1298’s Frontier members gave their approval to go on strike if union leaders deem it necessary, with the sides having the option to continue under the terms of the existing contract if close to reaching an agreement on a new one.

The vote was a procedural step for union members “to achieve the best contract we can get” in the words of Dave Weidlich Jr., president of CWA Local 1298, in response to a Hearst Connecticut Media query. CWA members in West Virginia picketed Frontier for three weeks in 2018.

“We are having discussions this week in an effort to move toward an agreement,” Weidlich said. “The strike authorization is the members saying to the bargaining committee, ‘Hey, we got your back ... and we’ll do everything necessary to reach that agreement.’ ”

Frontier has not provided details on any plan to maintain regular services in the event of a labor interruption, though a spokesperson stating contingency plans are in place for uninterrupted service.

In addition to telephone, internet and TV services it has long offered, Frontier has begun rolling out fibertothehome broadband. An executive told the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority last month the company has signed up more than 4,000 accounts.

A PURA official told Hearst Connecticut Media via email that the authority plans to monitor Frontier proactively in the event of any workforce stoppage. PURA has separately launched an inquiry on how Frontier plans to reduce more than $16 billion in debt while maintaining services.

“PURA has been in contact with representatives of Frontier regarding (its) preparations for the contingency of a labor strike,” said Scott Muska, PURA director of utility regulation. “The (authority) will be monitoring the status of the contract negotiations and Frontier’s response to ensure Frontier continues to meet its regulatory and service obligations.”

Frontier recorded a $5.3 billion loss in the second quarter, with the company scheduled to report thirdquarter results in early November. Frontier notified investment analysts that executives will not field questions on its November conference call, a policy it implemented for the first time this year.