Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Workers at Frontier Communications in West Virginia and Ashburn, Virginia, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), voted to grant strike authorization to union leaders on Friday. Negotiations for the 1,400 CWA members began last month. The current contract expired Aug. 5. The major bargaining issues include job security provisions that keep jobs local and limit the use of subcontractors in expanding broadband in West Virginia. “The public investment in broadband is an investment in opportunity for West Virginians, and we’re eager to help build it,” CWA Local 2007 President Rick McKinney said. “Public dollars should be used to build high-quality networks, and that means using an experienced union workforce, not temporary workers or subcontractors who often do not have adequate training and can put the public in harm’s way.”