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CWA Members Vote Strike Authorization at Qwest
Denver – Members of the Communications Workers of America working at Qwest Communications (NYSE:Q) voted overwhelmingly to give CWA leaders authorization to call a strike if a fair contract cannot be reached.
Contract negotiations currently are underway on behalf of 25,000 CWA-represented workers at Qwest, with the contract expiring effective 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 14.
CWA reported that 91 percent of Qwest members voted in favor of strike authorization in balloting conducted by CWA local unions. For a strike to take place, the next step would be for CWA's executive board to authorize President Morton Bahr to set a strike date.
"CWA wants to reach a fair agreement with Qwest, but management must recognize that our members have made substantial sacrifices to help keep Qwest in business over a very rocky period," said Annie Hill, CWA District 7 Vice President.
"Our members want Qwest to succeed, but we also expect management to come to the bargaining table with fair proposals, not excessive demands for shifting health care costs to workers and retirees, and demands for increased mandatory overtime work that force workers to spend even more time away from their families," she said.
Today at the bargaining table, the CWA bargaining team delivered petitions from more than 10,000 active and retired workers calling on the company to maintain health care benefits.
Hill noted that this is the first full contract bargaining session since 1998. Two contract extensions were approved by CWA members in 2001 and 2003 as an investment in the company's future in the wake of Qwest's serious financial difficulties caused by the previous management team headed by Joseph Nacchio. Nacchio and other executives have been charged with fraud and illegal business practices by the Securities and Exchange Commission; the current management team took over in July 2002.
In mobilization actions throughout the district, CWA members are reminding management that "we are the front line, not the bottom line, and that quality service is key to helping Qwest succeed. The talks cover workers at Qwest operations in 13 states: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
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Contract negotiations currently are underway on behalf of 25,000 CWA-represented workers at Qwest, with the contract expiring effective 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 14.
CWA reported that 91 percent of Qwest members voted in favor of strike authorization in balloting conducted by CWA local unions. For a strike to take place, the next step would be for CWA's executive board to authorize President Morton Bahr to set a strike date.
"CWA wants to reach a fair agreement with Qwest, but management must recognize that our members have made substantial sacrifices to help keep Qwest in business over a very rocky period," said Annie Hill, CWA District 7 Vice President.
"Our members want Qwest to succeed, but we also expect management to come to the bargaining table with fair proposals, not excessive demands for shifting health care costs to workers and retirees, and demands for increased mandatory overtime work that force workers to spend even more time away from their families," she said.
Today at the bargaining table, the CWA bargaining team delivered petitions from more than 10,000 active and retired workers calling on the company to maintain health care benefits.
Hill noted that this is the first full contract bargaining session since 1998. Two contract extensions were approved by CWA members in 2001 and 2003 as an investment in the company's future in the wake of Qwest's serious financial difficulties caused by the previous management team headed by Joseph Nacchio. Nacchio and other executives have been charged with fraud and illegal business practices by the Securities and Exchange Commission; the current management team took over in July 2002.
In mobilization actions throughout the district, CWA members are reminding management that "we are the front line, not the bottom line, and that quality service is key to helping Qwest succeed. The talks cover workers at Qwest operations in 13 states: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
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