Communications Workers Fail to Ratify Agreement

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) workers represented by the Communications Workers of America failed to ratify a Tentative Agreement reached between the company and the union last month.

On Aug. 17, the CWA and Qwest reached Tentative Agreement on the terms of a proposed new three-year contract covering about 20,000 Qwest workers. Routine contract talks between the two parties opened July 8.

Key provisions of that Tentative Agreement included wage increases totaling more than 9 percent over the term of the contract, modest changes to health care benefits and an increase in pension benefits for new retirees. Under the Tentative Agreement, the contract would expire Aug.13, 2011.

In light of the failure to ratify, the company has reactivated its contingency plan and remains completely operational. The parties will be discussing next steps over the coming days.