Qwest, union still talking as contract expires
(AP) - Qwest Communications International Inc. and members of its largest union kept negotiating Sunday as a labor contract expired.
Workers represented by the Communications Workers of America had voted to authorize a strike if needed, but CWA organizing coordinator Al Kogler said no strike had been called when the contract expired after 11:59 p.m. Saturday.
"As long as we're at the table, we're going to keep pursuing that," Kogler said Sunday.
The union represents about 20,000 Qwest workers in 13 states, including Minnesota.
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The talks come a little more than a week before the start of the Democratic National Convention, where Qwest is providing phone and Internet services. Qwest also is providing service to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, which begins Sept. 1.
Qwest spokesman Bob Toevs said Saturday night that company officials were hopeful the sides would reach a tentative agreement this weekend.
A unikon official said the sides were discussing employee and retiree health care, the wage package and job security.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
