CWA and Qwest Communications Reach Tentative Agreement

Contact: Al Kogler – 303-770-2822; cell 303-324-2438; Jeff Miller -  202-434-1168 (Washington)

DENVER -- The Communications Workers of America reported that its tentative contract settlement with Qwest Communications meets the union's key objectives of providing quality jobs, improvements in a range of workplace issues, wage and pension increases, and maintaining adequate health care benefits.

The three-year agreement covers 20,000 employees in 13 states and was reached early this morning after marathon negotiations following the expiration of the previous contract at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

General wage increases total more than 9 percent compounded over the contract term.  Sales employees receiving commissions received an increase in their base salary as well. The settlement also provides a 3 percent increase in pension bands.

Workers providing directory assistance services were brought under the main CWA agreement and will receive a wage increase in the third year of the contract.  

Other improvements include new language governing work quotas for technicians under the "quality jobs per day" provision that has been a source of contention between the parties.  Job security was strengthened for building maintenance workers and other job titles, and the parties also resolved other workplace issues. 

The parties negotiated a health care plan design that mitigated cost increases for actives and for retirees. "Ultimately I think we all agree that America faces a health care crisis, and it cannot be solved at the bargaining table alone. It demands a national solution. Qwest shares these concerns and is working with us to achieve national health care reform with universal coverage," said CWA District 7 Vice President Louise Caddell

"We didn't get everything we wanted," she noted, "but we achieved the best settlement possible in light of Qwest's struggle to regain its financial health.  This is a settlement that protects careers and living standards for our members and allows us to move forward with the company in building Qwest's success for the future."

Full details of the tentative settlement will be included in a bargaining report for members who will vote on ratification in early September.