CenturyLink wouldn’t budge on key issues during the latest round of bargaining, and members of the Communications Workers of America District 7 are being asked to vote on a tentative deal that is nearly identical to the one they rejected two weeks ago, according to an update from union leadership Friday evening.
“CenturyLink made it clear that ‘this is it,’ that this was their final and best offer,” the update states. “If it is not accepted, then the parties will be at impasse and the company will pursue its options.”
The CWA is telling members that if they vote no on the new deal, they are indicating that they are “prepared to strike.” Voting begins Monday and ballots are due Oct. 25. Members rejected the previous tentative deal by a vote of 54 percent to 46 percent.
During this week’s bargaining, the union asked the company to lower health care premiums, continue HMOs and convert lump payments into wage increases. CenturyLink denied those requests.
The new tentative deal, announced Friday, includes two changes. First, the company agreed to limit its use of lower-wage technicians in certain situations. Second, the employee match on 401(k) contributions for a portion of legacy Qwest employees dropped to 80 percent of the first 5 percent contributed from 81 percent on the first 6 percent.
Five of the six members of the CWA’s bargaining team support the deal, while one does not recommend it. The contract would cover 12,000 workers in 13 states, including 2,000 in Colorado. Job titles include call-center operators, network technicians and others.
Unlike in late July, when both sides announced the previous tentative deal, only the union announced the latest agreement Friday.
CenturyLink spokesman Mark Molzen said Saturday that “the union has informed CenturyLink that its members will vote again on a tentative contract agreement.”
If the agreement is rejected, CenturyLink could lock out employees or implement provisions of the contract anyway. The previous pact, which expired last October, has been extended temporarily through Oct. 28.
12,000
The number of CenturyLink workers covered in the new contract, over which members of the Communications Workers of America District 7 are prepared to strike
2,000
The number of CenturyLink workers in Colorado
