Commentary: An America First Merger That Puts American Workers First

by Robert Romano

Antitrust concerns don’t arise without good reason. More often than not, modern-day mergers between larger players in an industry can mean layoffs for workers and bad deals for consumers. It’s rare that a good deal comes along that spurs economic investment, brings back jobs to the U.S., while benefiting consumers. But that’s the case with the proposed combination of Charter and Cox Communications.

The Charter-Cox merger is an America First deal that supports President Trump’s agenda to bring jobs and new investment to the United States. Big Tech and Big Media dominate the telecom space, which continues to escape regulations that others in the industry are subject to, tilting the playing field in favor of Disney, Google, Netflix, and the like. In the Trump economy, a merger between companies like Charter and Cox makes sense to empower American workers, provide consumers with better choices, and increase competition in the marketplace.

This deal puts American workers first. The combined company will adopt Charter’s model of employing a 100 percent U.S.-based customer sales and service workforce, which means that Cox will onshore hundreds of its customer service jobs to the U.S. This move is a win for President Trump’s agenda to reshore American jobs, creating new, good-paying careers for American workers.

The company guarantees that every new employee will receive a minimum starting wage of at least $20 per hour — nearly three times the federal minimum wage. It’s more proof that the private sector and free markets do a better job of rewarding workers than government price-fixing.

This deal benefits hard-working, blue-collar Americans, not just those in the corner suites. Charter and Cox’s combined self-driven and broadband field tech apprenticeship programs will provide employees with opportunities to learn skills and gain on-the-job technical training to advance their careers. Deals like this help fulfill Trump’s promise to take care of American workers over American elites. It’s a model that should inform the conditions of future mergers.

The government’s role in policing the private sector should be simple: protect workers, consumers, ensure fair practices, and foster competition and innovation. This deal benefits American workers while bringing more competition for Big Tech and Big Media.

The Charter-Cox deal is a good example of how companies should think about mergers. This deal is a win for American workers, consumers, and the economy.

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Robert Romano is the Executive Director of Americans for Limited Government.

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