Question: How do I reference the root frame label in a function for event dispatching using a switch statement.

SUMMARY: This is simple, but as I've stepped away from ActionScript for too long, I'm having trouble figuring out the proper test expression to reference the root timeline frame label (e.g., switch(the root frame label)).

Nothing i've tried works:
switch(this.label)://obviously this would look at the button timeline
switch(event.root.label)://player says there is no "root" property
...
STRUCTURE: I have five MCs, one on each of five frames. I have a forward button and a back button. I created a switch statement to specify different actions, based on the root frame label. Frame labels are f1, f2, f3, f4, fend.

THE RELEVANT CODE on Frame one ("f1"):
Code:
stop();
nexter.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onNexter);

nexter.buttonMode = true;
backer.gotoAndStop("subdued");

function onNexter(event:MouseEvent):void
{
	switch(event.root.label)
	{
		case "f1":
			trace("f1 click recognized");
			backer.buttonMode = true;
			backer.gotoAndStop("bright");
			backer.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onBacker);
			root.nextFrame();
			break;
		case "f2":
			nextFrame();
			break;
		case "f3":
			nextFrame();
			break;
		case "f4":
			nexter.removeEventListener();
			nexter.gotoAndStop("subdued");
			nextFrame();
			break;
		case "fend":
			break;
	}
}
function onBacker(event:MouseEvent):void
{
	switch(this.frame)
	{
		case "f1":
			break;
		case "f2":
			backer.gotoAndStop("subdued");
			prevFrame();
			break;
		case "f3":
			prevFrame();
			break;
		case "f4":
			prevFrame();
			break;
		case "fend":
			nexter.gotoAndStop("bright");
			prevFrame();
			break;
	}
}