CenturyLink, unions talk as contract expires

CenturyLink Inc. and the unions for 700,000 workers in 13 states -- including Minnesota -- have extended talks after their labor contract expired Saturday night.

Louisiana-based CenturyLink, the Communications Workers of America District 7 and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on Sunday announced a day-to-day extension of their existing labor contracts. They say negotiations will continue and CenturyLink employees will keep working.

A week ago the CWA union said more than 88 percent of its voting members had authorized a strike. At the time, a spokesman said members opposed the increasing cost of health care and flow of jobs overseas.

CenturyLink provides service on about 1.3 million phone lines in Minnesota. Last year the company merged with Qwest, which had acquired US West. Qwest lost many customers as people dropped landline phones.

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