Date Posted
CWA District 1 Assistant to the Vice President Dennis Trainor and Staff Representative Pat Telesco joined with CWA Local 1298's Executive Board and Business Agents today in a meeting with  Frontier Communication's leadership at their headquarters in Stamford.  During this meeting, Frontier gave a  presentation regarding how benefits will be handled going forward for Local 1298 members  transitioning  to Frontier if the deal to acquire AT&T comes to fruition.  As stated in their presentation, this was merely a summary, which was subject to actual deal terms.  We began the meeting with Frontier by asking about the recent Q&A that they posted on their website. Of particular concern, was Frontier’s response to question #22 which referenced surplused employees who are on the Guaranteed Job Offer.  We pointed out to Frontier that this response was premature, because this information had not been determined during effects bargaining with either company.   Frontier agreed that this is still an open item and has agreed to say so on their website. Frontier’s overview stated that current plan designs and policies will be replicated, and that employee’s will receive new ID Cards for RX drugs and vision plans. Deductibles, Out of Pocket Maximums, and Annual Maximums would transfer over. Third Party Administrators, Cigna, Eye Med, Value Options, Wage works, Life care, Mercer, John Hancock vendors would remain the same through 2015. Prescriptions presently admininistered under CVS Caremark  are yet to be determined AON Hewitt is presently our benefits administrator will transition to Empyrean Benefit Solutions. Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBS-IL) will transition to Anthem Blue Cross/ Blue Shield which is currently headquartered in Connecticut.  Both have the same network providers. Life and AD&D Insurance administration is currently being reviewed and they will notify CWA as soon as they determine who this vendor will be. Frontier reassured the Union that open “Case Management” “condition management” and pre-certification approval cases, mail order prescriptions and all pre-authorization approvals would transfer over to the new vendors, and they hope for a seamless transition. Short and Long Term Disability Plans will no longer be administered by Sedgwick. Instead, Prudential will assume this responsibility. FSA and HRA plans currently with AT&T will be transferred over to Empyrean. The Pension Plan administrator will transition from Fidelity to Milliman where pension benefits will be replicated.  o   Frontier will provide full credit for eligibility, vesting and accruals earned by AT&T employees in their pension benefit including prior legacy pension benefits. o   It is highly suggested that all members go on line or call Fidelity and get a print out of the current benefits for both 401k and Pension plans. Fidelity can be reached at 1-800-416-2363 ​ 401k Plan Administrator Fidelity will remain.  o   Fidelity will remap and transfer employee account balances to Frontier 401K Plan into new investment fund options.  o   Company match will be invested in the same manner as employee contribution. o   Employee deferrals and loan deductions will transfer from AT& T payroll. There are still unanswered questions regarding how some of the benefits will transition from AT&T to Frontier. We will continue to meet with both companies to insure that all benefits will transition as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) if the AT&T-Frontier Transaction gets approved and finalized. CWA still has concerns with this transaction and have made these concerns known to both companies and made these concerns public with our comments to the FCC. We have once again reiterated to Frontier that the Union is still waiting to find out how our members will fit into the Frontier Organization.  We have requested a meeting to review all job titles in the CBA with  Frontiers intent on how these titles will fit into their business model. The union expects to have many follow-up meetings for future effects bargaining, and will keep the members apprised.