Denver/Seattle – Denver based Telecom giant Qwest Communications today entered into a contract with its largest labor union, the Communications Workers of America, averting a possible strike that could have disrupted service at the democratic convention due in about a week in the city.

The three-year deal will cover some 20,000 Qwest employees in 13 states who are represented by the union. Qwest also reached a tentative agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents employees in Montana. CWA has reported that its tentative contract settlement with Qwest meets the union's major objectives of providing quality jobs, improvements in a range of workplace issues, wage and pension increases, and maintaining adequate health care benefits. The agreement was reached early this morning after marathon negotiations following the expiration of the previous contract at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

         Some of the terms of the new contract include general wage increases totaling more than 9 percent compounded over the contract term, sales employees receiving commissions receiving an increase in their base salary and providing a 3 percent increase in pension bands. Workers providing directory assistance services have been brought under the main CWA agreement and will receive a wage increase in the third year of the contract.   

          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. 

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 has been strengthened for building maintenance workers and other job titles, among resolving other workplace issues. 

In addition to the Dems convention, Qwest also is providing communication service for the Republican National Convention, which begins September 1 in St. Paul, Minn.