Qwest, Union Return to ‘Stalled’ Talks

Qwest Communications International Inc. and union representatives headed back to the bargaining table Monday afternoon after a day in which little progress was reported in reaching a new contract for nearly 25,000 employees.

The employees across a 13-state region remained on the job two days after their contract with the telephone provider expired, hoping to avoid a strike.

Earlier Monday, the Communications Workers of America characterized the talks as “stalled” after a weekend of negotiations and said they were not expected to resume that day.

Key unresolved issues included healthcare, wages and overtime for employees in the region.

“We’re still very far apart on big issues,” union spokeswoman Candice Johnson said. “Stalled is a good word.”

“We were seeing some real progress over the weekend,” she said. “For whatever reason, that forward movement isn’t there now.”

Qwest spokesman Bob Toevs declined to comment on the specifics of negotiations. “We are continuing to work toward a new agreement,” he said.

The union’s contract with Qwest expired at midnight Saturday, but the two sides agreed to continue to talk.