07/06/2026
CWA Local 3105 Membership Update
Combination Technician – Negotiations Update
Brothers and Sisters,
This afternoon, Local Presidents from across CWA District 3 participated in a conference call to discuss the Company’s notice regarding the proposed Combination Technician title. We wanted to take a few moments to share what we know at this point and, just as importantly, what we do not know.
First and foremost, formal negotiations have not yet begun. We are currently waiting for the Company to provide bargaining dates so discussions can officially get underway. The 2024 Bargaining Team, including Nick Hawkins, Billy O’Dell, Al Gillory, Jason Kelley, Eric Gosnell, and Caleb East, will represent the membership throughout this process.
Today’s discussion centered around the issues CWA expects to address once bargaining begins. Those include:
Negotiating a wage rate higher than the temporary Wage Scale 32 proposed by the Company.
Defining the job description and duties of the new title.
Addressing safety concerns related to the proposed work and ensuring that safe work practices remain the priority.
Discussing whether the Combination Technician title will be included in the Pooling Agreement. The Company has indicated a willingness to discuss this issue.
Determining whether additional qualifications, such as testing requirements, should become part of the title.
Clarifying how these positions will be staffed, including whether they will be filled through new hires, voluntary movement, or other means.
Based on the information available today, the Company intends for this to be a regular full-time core position. The initial focus appears to be in rural areas where switch turn-downs are occurring, fiber deployment is not currently planned, and wireless-only service may be implemented.
There was also significant discussion regarding the safety aspects of work currently performed by Construction forces and Power Technicians. Those concerns stem from the specialized training, skills, and safety requirements associated with that work. Leadership also shared that other CWA districts currently have Combination Technician classifications, but many continue to maintain separate work groups that perform specialized functions.
At this time, the Company has not indicated how many Combination Technician positions it intends to establish.
Another important topic involved employees who may be physically unable to perform the work. Based on the Company’s current position, those situations would be addressed through the contractual surplus process rather than the PMR process. This is one of many issues that will continue to be examined during negotiations.
If the parties are unable to reach an agreement, Article 15 of the contract outlines the next steps. Wage disputes may proceed to third-party mediation, while disputes concerning the job description may proceed through Article 21 and, if necessary, arbitration.
The Company’s notice was issued on June 30, 2026, beginning the contractual 60-day bargaining period. During that time, the parties are expected to meet and negotiate over the proposed title. As those discussions take place, we will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available.
As always, we want to remind everyone that this process is only beginning. There will undoubtedly be rumors, speculation, and people claiming to have inside information. We ask that you continue to rely on information coming directly from your Union. We remain committed to providing updates that are factual, transparent, and timely—even when the news isn’t exactly what we want to hear.
As bargaining progresses, we will continue to keep you informed every step of the way to the best of our ability. Thank you for your continued patience, support, and solidarity.
In Solidarity,
Shawn Todd
President, CWA Local 3105
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