Verizon-Frontier Deal Has CWA, Others Up in Arms

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union is none too happy about the pending Frontier Communications takeover of Verizon Communications Inc. landlines and it’s launched a campaign to block the deal.

CWA says its members could face layoffs and other cutbacks if the acquisition – which would make Frontier the largest rural service provider in the country – goes through. They cite major troubles at FairPoint Communications and Hawaiian Telcom, both of whom bought Verizon wireline assets and then plunged into a deep financial and operational abyss.

Frontier protests those claims and says its challenge is to get people to understand the company.

Meanwhile, several high-ranking public officials in the Midwest say they’re unsure about the impact of a Frontier-Verizon transaction on consumers and service provider rivals. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and other leaders from that state said Thursday the $8.5 billion deal stands to hurt nearly 600,000 customers.