CWA Bargainers Fighting Qwest Giveback Demands

With contract expiration still two weeks away, CWA bargainers have been holding marathon caucus sessions to work through extensive proposals from Qwest Communications.

At the bargaining table, the union team still faces unacceptable demands by the company for givebacks in many areas, including health care, working conditions, mandatory overtime, leave provisions and more, reported Le Roy Christiansen, chair of the bargaining team and assistant to District 7 Vice President Annie Hill.

A conference call with the bargaining team, held July 20, provided a window into the negotiating process. The committee discussed company proposals, reiterated the CWA goals established at the Qwest pre-bargaining conference and answered many questions, ranging from compensation issues to concerns from retirees.

The team reassured retired workers that "you are always with us, and we have an obligation to all our members, both active and retired."

The contract covering 25,000 workers expires Aug. 13 and locals now are taking a strike authorization vote among members. Those results will be announced Aug. 5.

In a separate development, Arizona Corporation Commissioner Bill Mundell has reminded the company's top executive in the state that the company had pledged to maintain worker benefits as part of the company's merger with US West in 2000.

The commission approved the merger conditioned upon Qwest's promise that no workers would be at risk to lose pension and post-retirement benefits.