Qwest workers will receive a 9 percent wage increase over three years but face higher health-care costs under terms of an agreement hammered out Monday after marathon weekend negotiations.
The tentative labor contract averts the threat of a strike one week before the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Denver with Qwest as the main supplier of phone and Internet service.
Members of Communications Workers of America District 7 are scheduled to hold a ratification vote on the contract early next month.
Other terms of the agreement include modified work-quota requirements for technicians. The changes prevent workers from being penalized if factors out of their control such as travel times and equipment problems cause them to fall short of job quotas.
The tentative contract covers about 20,000 Qwest employees represented by the CWA in 13 states.
“It sounds like a fair contract for both sides,” Denver telecommunications analyst Donna Jaegers said. “A 9 percent wage increase is pretty good. Obviously, the union had some leverage in that Qwest didn’t want to have a strike with the DNC coming into town.”
Neither Qwest nor CWA officials would disclose the higher health-care premiums called for in the new deal. Currently, Qwest workers pay no premiums for their own insurance but must pay to cover family members. Qwest, during negotiations, had proposed that single workers begin paying $43 a month.
CWA members and union officials last week had authorized a strike if an agreement wasn’t reached.
Bargaining talks went into high gear over the weekend with late- night and early-morning sessions as the existing contract expired at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.
About an hour after the expiration, both sides reported that negotiations had stalled.
But talks resumed Sunday evening after Qwest chief executive Ed Mueller and CWA president Larry Cohen spoke over the phone in an effort to restart the discussions. The tentative agreement was reached early Monday morning.
Despite the threat of a work stoppage, CWA spokesman Al Kogler said the union never felt it was close to calling a strike, even after the contract expired.
“We didn’t get everything we wanted, but we achieved the best settlement possible in light of Qwest’s struggle to regain its financial health,” said CWA District 7 vice president Louise Caddell.
“I appreciate the collaborative effort the bargaining teams made in confronting key issues facing employees and Qwest, especially health care,” said Teresa Taylor, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Qwest.
Qwest also reached a tentative agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents the company’s employees in Montana.
In addition to the DNC, Qwest also is providing service to the Republican National Convention, which begins Sept. 1 in St. Paul, Minn.
Steve Raabe: 303-954-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com
• 9% Pay raise, over three years, for Qwest workers under a tentative contract deal reached Monday
• 20,000 Employees, in 13 states, affected by the contract
• Health coverage: Higher premiums; details not yet disclosed
• Work quotas: Eased requirements for technicians
• Maintenance: Less outsourcing
• What’s next: Ratification by CWA members
