Thursday, August 11, 2005

Talks between Qwest, union head down to the wire

An AP newswire article, via The Mercury News, reports that:

Negotiations between Qwest Communications and its largest union appeared headed down to the wire Thursday as union officials said the two sides have been unable to agree on issues such as health care, wages and a mandatory overtime policy.

Teams for Qwest Communications International Inc. and the Communications Workers of America continued their discussions with the contract set to expire at midnight Saturday.

The company and the union have made standard contingency preparations in the event of a walkout that would involve nearly 25,000 workers in 13 mostly Western states ranging from customer service representatives to technicians. Qwest is negotiating separately with a union representing about 350 workers in Montana.

Union members were readying materials to make picket signs and working on picket-line schedules. Qwest managers would take over for workers in the event of a strike.

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