IBEW, Quest Keep Negotiating

Qwest, union keep discussion open
Tuesday, August 16th 2005

DENVER (AP) - Qwest Communications International Inc. and its biggest union agreed late Saturday to extend negotiations on a new labor contract for 25,000 employees in more than a dozen states, delaying a possible strike.

“Qwest and the union continue to bargain in good faith,” Qwest spokesman Bob Toevs said.
The union said progress had been made since the executive board of the Communications Workers of America authorized a strike earlier Saturday. Like Toevs, spokeswoman Candice Johnson declined to provide details.
“It focused attention on how important the issues are for our members,” Johnson said of the authorization.
Last week, workers overwhelmingly authorized a strike. A walkout would affect employees ranging from customer service representatives to technicians.
Union negotiators said in an e-mail Saturday to members that Qwest had backed away from increasing mandatory overtime, one of the major issues holding up a new contract. They said Qwest was sticking to health care and retirement plan proposals opposed by the union.
The contract between Qwest and CWA members in 13 mostly Western states was set to expire at midnight but the deal to keep talking means it remains in effect.
Qwest was negotiating separately with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a union representing about 300 workers in Montana whose contract also expired Saturday. A union recording said talks had been extended into early Sunday. Toevs has said Qwest could operate normally during a strike, with managers taking on the bulk of the tasks.
Negotiators said Qwest had offered a wage proposal conditioned on changes in health care plans for retirees and active employees, including increases in deductibles and copays.
The company said retirees and active employees — who have never had to pay a monthly health insurance premium — could retain their current health care plan if they agree to pay a monthly premium, the union said. In 2003, the CWA and the IBEW representing Montana employees approved a contract with two bonuses instead of a salary hike in part because of the company’s problems at the time — $20 billion in debt, stagnant revenue and government probes of financial statements.
The company is working to reduce its current debt of about $17 billion after losing out this year in a bidding war for MCI Inc. to Verizon Communications Inc.
Qwest provides local phone service and other communications services in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.