Members of the Communication Workers of America will rally at the Qwest building in downtown Minneapolis and at other locations in the metro area Tuesday to urge a fair settlement to contract talks with the telecommunications company.
The rally will start at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Qwest, 200 S. 5th St., Minneapolis, the union said.
The contract between CWA and Qwest expired at 1 a.m. Sunday and union members are now working without a contract. "A strike could begin on short notice," the union said in a statement.
Some 25,000 Qwest employees, including about 4,000 in Minnesota, are represented by the CWA. Negotiations, which are taking place in Denver, stalled Monday morning, the union said, and were scheduled to resume Monday evening.
Key issues include health care and other benefits for current and retired members.
"Our members have already sacrificed raises for the past two years to maintain our health care benefits," said Tim Lovaasen, president of the CWA Minnesota State Council. "Our members will not accept any cost shifting to employees or retirees.
"Our sacrifices have helped to keep Qwest a viable company,"said Lovaasen. "Qwest can hold the line on our health insurance and still remain viable. Benefits are the reason that Qwest attracts and retains quality, skilled workers. The company must settle now."
After 20 hours of negotiations on Saturday, Qwest backed off on its proposals to double overtime from eight to 16 hours, the union said.
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Members of the Communication Workers of America will rally at the Qwest building in downtown Minneapolis and at other locations in the metro area Tuesday to urge a fair settlement to contract talks with the telecommunications company.
The rally will start at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Qwest, 200 S. 5th St., Minneapolis, the union said.
The contract between CWA and Qwest expired at 1 a.m. Sunday and union members are now working without a contract. “A strike could begin on short notice,” the union said in a statement.
Some 25,000 Qwest employees, including about 4,000 in Minnesota, are represented by the CWA. Negotiations, which are taking place in Denver, stalled Monday morning, the union said, and were scheduled to resume Monday evening.
Key issues include health care and other benefits for current and retired members.
“Our members have already sacrificed raises for the past two years to maintain our health care benefits,” said Tim Lovaasen, president of the CWA Minnesota State Council. “Our members will not accept any cost shifting to employees or retirees.
“Our sacrifices have helped to keep Qwest a viable company,”said Lovaasen. “Qwest can hold the line on our health insurance and still remain viable. Benefits are the reason that Qwest attracts and retains quality, skilled workers. The company must settle now.”
After 20 hours of negotiations on Saturday, Qwest backed off on its proposals to double overtime from eight to 16 hours, the union said.