Qwest union OKs strike if contract talks sour

Members of the largest employee union at Qwest Communications International Inc. have voted to authorize a strike if talks fail to produce a new contract.

Communications Workers of America District 7 said last night that 93 percent of voting members had authorized union leaders to call a strike if needed.

A contract covering about 20,000 union workers at Qwest expires 12:01 a.m. August 17th, a little more than a week before the Democratic National Convention in Denver and about two weeks before the Republican National Convention begins in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Denver-based Qwest is providing communication services at both conventions.

The last time CWA held a strike at Qwest was in 1998. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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