The Communications Workers of America has reached a tentative three-year agreement with Qwest Communications that achieves the union's major objectives of a fair wage increase, protecting health security for both active employees and retirees, and safeguarding against excessive hours of forced overtime, among other gains, the union announced.

The agreement, reached Tuesday evening, covers 25,000 Qwest workers in 13 states and is subject to membership ratification. Highlights of the agreement include:

* A wage increase of 7.5 percent over the three-year contract term.

* Employees will continue to have employer-paid health care, with changes to the out-of-pocket cost structure that will reduce overall costs for many workers. There is a new enrollment fee for spouse and family coverage. Retired workers also will maintain their employer-paid health care, with some offsetting changes to retiree life insurance coverage.

* Continuation of the 8-hour limit on mandatory overtime per week, enabling workers to balance their work and family lives.

CWA Vice President Annie Hill said CWA was determined to reach a fair contract for Qwest workers who are a critical part of the company's ability to succeed in a tough, competitive environment.

"We've worked with this company for many years and our members have done their part and more to keep Qwest going forward," she said. "It's very important to our members that Qwest acknowledge the value they bring to this company, and this agreement does that."

CWA workers haven't had a wage increase in three years, agreeing to two contract extensions in 2001 and 2003 to support Qwest and a new management team.

CWA President Morton Bahr said that the tough bargaining by both sides on health care reflected a worsening nationwide problem.

"Both the union and management bargainers are to be commended for the effort and innovation they brought to this process," Bahr said. "CWA has long worked with our major employers to maintain quality, affordable care for workers and their families. We're very pleased to have reached this agreement and to again have safeguarded health care for active and retired workers."

CWA represents Qwest workers in 13 states: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.