CWA, Frontier Close to 4-Year Labor Contract in W.Va., Va.

Union workers and Frontier Communications tentatively agreed to a four-year contract for 1,400 workers in West Virginia and Ashburn, Virginia, said Communications Workers of America. The tentative deal includes wage increases, while maintaining existing job security language and health and welfare benefits, CWA said Saturday. Also, Frontier pledged to create additional jobs, the union said. A contract ratification vote will occur in coming weeks, CWA said. “We started this round of bargaining with one of the best contracts in the telecommunications industry,” said CWA District 2-13 Vice President Mike Davis. He said the union’s side “did an excellent job in the face of intense pressure from the company for concessions on post-Medicare retiree benefits.” Frontier didn’t comment.