Qwest and its largest union, the Communications Workers of America District 7, resumed contract talks this evening after negotiations had stalled in an earlier session over health-care and wage issues.
The agreement to return to bargaining occurred after high-level officials of Qwest and the CWA met separately from normal bargaining teams in an effort to get the parties back together after talks had been called off at about 1 a.m. today.
The existing contract between the CWA and Qwest expired at 12:01 a.m. today.
No work stoppages have occurred.
Both sides said they remain hopeful that an agreement still can be reached without a strike or lockout.
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. A company spokesman told CBS4 that setup work is ahead of schedule and Qwest has a backup plan to keep things going in the event of a strike.
Qwest also is handling the Republican National Convention, which starts Sept. 1 in Minneapolis.
More than 20,000 Qwest employees represented by the CWA are continuing to work under wage and health-care provisions of the expired contract.
CWA members and their leadership last week authorized a strike against Qwest. But the union said it remains committed to getting a new contract through negotiations.
Qwest spokesman Robert Toevs said his company will continue to bargain in good faith and remains committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible.
