• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Union Members OK Strike If Qwest Talks Fail

Posted on: Saturday, 6 August 2005, 12:00 CDT

DENVER -- As a contract deadline approaches, nearly all workers have agreed to authorize a strike if ongoing contract negotiations with Qwest Communications collapse, the union said Friday.

The Communications Workers of America District 7 said 91 percent of workers who participated in a recent balloting approved the authorization, the first step needed to strike. The union covers 25,000 workers in 14 states, including Utah.

Although such a vote is a standard negotiating procedure, it is "a good message to let the employer know how serious we are," said Annie Hill, CWA District 7 vice president.

The results were released as the two sides continued to haggle over key issues -- such as health care, wages and a mandatory overtime policy -- to try to reach a new contract before the current pact expires at midnight Aug. 13.

The union delivered petitions signed by 10,000 former and current workers who urged Qwest to maintain health-care benefits.

The two sides have reached tentative agreements on some points but the pace of the talks is "very, very slow," Hill said.

"We've not reached agreement on any item of significance," she said.

Qwest spokesman Steve Hammack declined comment on the talks. He said the company also has taken a standard step by drawing up a contingency plan that would have managers taking over for workers in the event of a strike.

In order for a strike to occur, Hill said the CWA executive board would have to authorize President Morton Bahr to set a strike date.

The talks come as Qwest is facing some critical challenges months after it lost a contentious multi-billion-dollar battle for MCI Inc.

Although its second-quarter results showed improvement, Qwest still is burdened with about $17 billion in debt amid growing competition from other phone companies and Internet providers.

The union is seeking an increase in base salary and retention of current health-care benefits. Another key issue is mandatory overtime. The current contract sets a maximum of eight overtime hours a week, which Qwest wants to boost to 16 hours a week, Hill said.

She blamed the proposal on the company's downsizing in recent years as part of cost-cutting measures.

In 2003, Qwest workers approved a contract extension with two bonuses instead of a salary hike in part because of the company's struggle with $20 billion in debt, stagnant revenue and government probes into Qwest's accounting.

Qwest sought to improve its balance sheet by acquiring MCI, but the long-distance carrier's board opted for a lower bid from Verizon Communications Inc., figuring it was a more secure partner.

The company also is negotiating with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers representing about 350 employees in Montana.

Source: Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

More News in this Category