CWA: Qwest-CenturyLink Deal Must Focus on Jobs, Investment in High Speed Broadband

CenturyLink has announced plans to buy Qwest Communications in an all-stock deal.

CWA has stressed that in its discussions with management of both companies, we will focus on the employment security and rights of our members and continued critical investment in high speed broadband.

CWA represents about 15,000 workers at Qwest in District 7 and about 3,700 at CenturyLink, formed by the merger of Century Tel and Embarq.

CWA pointed out to reporters and analysts that Wall Street terms like "merger synergies" used in these deals are often just shorthand for job cuts or pay cuts. President Obama's job summit and recent legislation put jobs front and center, not just at a conference but in all governmental decision-making.

The Federal Communications Commission's broadband plan calls for a one gigabit build-out to anchor institutions in every community and by 2015, a build-out of 50 megabits down and 20 megabits up to 80 percent of households. 

CWA will work with management, and with the FCC and state regulators, to make sure that this merger offers specific commitments to meet these goals.