CenturyLink workers closer to striking in Wash., 12 other states
DENVER (AP) - Union leaders representing CenturyLink workers in 13 states, including Washington, have moved closer to allowing a strike but contract talks with the telecommunications company are continuing.
The Communication Workers of America announced Thursday that its executive board has authorized the union's president to set a strike date, the final step before going on strike.
"There's nothing imminent. Our goal remains to get a good contract," union spokesman Al Kogler said.
CenturyLink and the union have been negotiating for six months on a new contract for 13,000 employees who formerly worked for Qwest Communications. It's the first time CenturyLink has negotiated with the union since it acquired Denver-based Qwest in 2011 in a deal that turned it into the nation's third-largest telephone company.
Kogler said the main sticking points in the talks include a proposed 350 percent increase in health care premiums, bringing jobs that have been moved overseas, including customer service slots, back to the U.S., and using fewer contract workers domestically, replacing them with staff workers.
CenturyLink spokesman Mark Molzen said the company's proposal would bring premiums in line with the national average over several years. He also said it has proposed returning some jobs to the United States but wouldn't say how many.
The employees covered by the contract include customer service agents, network technicians and Internet support workers in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, North Dakota, New Mexico, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Negotiations started on Aug. 15, 2012 and, in October, 88 percent of the workers voted to authorize a strike. The executive board took its vote on Wednesday.
About 100 CenturyLink workers in Montana are represented by another union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. They're not involved in the CenturyLink negotiations, although Kogler said they have previously signed contracts similar to ones that CenturyLink reached with Qwest.
The Communication Workers of America announced Thursday that its executive board has authorized the union's president to set a strike date, the final step before going on strike.
"There's nothing imminent. Our goal remains to get a good contract," union spokesman Al Kogler said.
CenturyLink and the union have been negotiating for six months on a new contract for 13,000 employees who formerly worked for Qwest Communications. It's the first time CenturyLink has negotiated with the union since it acquired Denver-based Qwest in 2011 in a deal that turned it into the nation's third-largest telephone company.
Kogler said the main sticking points in the talks include a proposed 350 percent increase in health care premiums, bringing jobs that have been moved overseas, including customer service slots, back to the U.S., and using fewer contract workers domestically, replacing them with staff workers.
CenturyLink spokesman Mark Molzen said the company's proposal would bring premiums in line with the national average over several years. He also said it has proposed returning some jobs to the United States but wouldn't say how many.
The employees covered by the contract include customer service agents, network technicians and Internet support workers in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, North Dakota, New Mexico, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Negotiations started on Aug. 15, 2012 and, in October, 88 percent of the workers voted to authorize a strike. The executive board took its vote on Wednesday.
About 100 CenturyLink workers in Montana are represented by another union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. They're not involved in the CenturyLink negotiations, although Kogler said they have previously signed contracts similar to ones that CenturyLink reached with Qwest.
Remember Twinkies?
Customers should strike as well since Century Link is horrible, and a complete ripoff. I stuck with Qwest because they refused to bow down to the government's Patriot Act requests(only major ISP to do so) and was willing to put up with the slower speeds in return for it(only had a 1.5mbps connection available in NE seattle). Once CenturyLink bought em though i knew it was time to leave as there was no benefit. Paying the same price for at best 20% the connection speed the competition offers, horrible Customer service, and flat out lies about when they would upgrade neighborhoods.
Now im with Comcast, which while still a horrible company, at least offers competitive connection speeds, and decent prices for them. I know their standard residential lines can be pretty crappy, but man the business class service is stellar. I'm only paying for a 20mbps connection, but for the last 2 years have been getting anywhere from 45-70mbps from it. In other words, it's about 50x faster than what Century Link currently offers.Â
So yeah, Dump century link people, you can do, and deserve better.
I i have been waiting about a week to get my number ported out of CenturyLInk. Hate them and Qwest and will be glad to be done with them. Shouldnt have to pay more for Caller Id LOL. I have been the fool
It's always funny when people come out of the wood work to bash any company they've had a problem with. For the handful that have had issues with CTL, there are hundreds of thousands that haven't and are probably happy with their service. I don't live in the CTL footprint, but had service with them for years prior to moving (under PNB, then US West, and Qwest) and never had any issues. I can't speak to the 'raising the rates again' comment, but if you want to bash a Company for that, Comcast, as Ken would have said, "come on down".Â
As for the union taking the next step to go on strike...help me with this. Let me see if I have this straight...the contract expired in Oct 2012. The Union employees are still being paid, and are covered under the contract that is expired. The Union doesn't like the new contract as it has been presented, so they want to walk out? Hmm, not working equals no pay check. Seems to me that working without a contract, and being covered under the old contract that the Union Members approved and still getting a paycheck every two weeks would be a WIN WIN situation. If I recall last year, Verizon worked without a contract for 13 months and they too were CWA. All I can say is with the economy the way that it is, I'd be happy to have my job and sure wouldn't go out on strike. Look what good that did for Hostess. I'd imagine there would be thousands of people lined up to take the jobs and be HAPPY with the terms of the contract CTL is offering. Â
Just for grins I just checked CTL stock...it's down over $9.00 from yesterday's close! With the projected earnings for 2013, reduction in dividends and the union threat to go out on strike things aren't lookin so good. Gee, that's going to help the union's fight...NOT. I can see the good ole boys of CTL now...so they want to go on strike, fine, we'll hire replacements. Â Â Â Â
@Should be fishin Working without a contract isn't really beneficial either. The Company could also just decide to "lockout" the Union workers to force a settlement. The fact they have worked without a contract for this long is admirable. Personally, I think CenturyLINK bit off more than the could chew with this acquisition of Qwest and have way too many other problems to properly negotiate with their employees. And this potential strike might make them wake up and get the job don.
Quick.... hurry..... better pass the costs on to the consumer! Almost every facet of business in America will be playing the game of pass the buck.
@Funky-Munky As a CenturyLink employee I can gaurantee you that the costs won't be passed on to the customer. I was a CWA member for over a decade and have been in a non union position for several years. When the Union does well the non union employees pick up the slack in higher H.C. premiums, smaller if any raised (not seen one in 4 years) and loss of positions. Company's are in business to make a profit if not why start a company. If the unions extort above standard benifits then trust me, the company will get the profits somewhere and in this competitive market it isn't coming from the customers. It's to easy to switch to cable.
@Funky-Munky What are you smoking anyway? ALL BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTS pass their costs on to the "consumer" or "taxpayer". Where else would the money come from? If you don't like a business cost, don't use it.No one requires you to have a land based phone line, cable modem or DSL system.
I find some of these comments interesting... i beleive centurylink made close to 2 billion in profit in 2011 and close to 1.7 billion in 2012 so dont see them going out of business... re the healthcare part the company is seeking premium increases that far exceed any increases in actual rates.. in another story they talk about that seems it was edited here on komo, they are just trying to get employees to pay more so they pocket more. I totally get the union wanting jobs back in the usa.. i dont like dealing with overseas folks either because they have access to our social security numbers and bank account information and are unchecked they could do anything with that information.
"Â Kogler says sticking points include increased health care premiums"
Haha.  O-Care is the driving force behind your increased rates. Pay up, schmucks, all you Unionistas that went cuckoo for OCA-puffs. Some of us actually read the bill  (eyes still hurt) and realized this ain't gonna bode well for our Gold-Plated Union Plans.
@Getov Mylon Corp America has been shifting to forcing employees to pay a higher and higher percentage of health care costs for many years now and it has absolutely nothing to do with Obamacare. Maybe you need to re-read the bill?
@Seattleisaslew The IRS predicts the "Bronze" plan will  be $20,000 annually in 2014. That's the cheapie plan. We were sold a bill of goods. Those of us that read the bill knew it. (see Medical Device Tax and job losses at companies in Blue States).
The fact is that third party insurance will always be inefficient and costly. Give me a "drug" allowance and I will get my meds at Costco where it's kind of a pain ( no Sunday pharmacy).  Have insurance pay directly  and I'll get them at the nearest drive-thru Mega Drug where it costs 3-5 times as much. Â
http://housedocs.house.gov/energycommerce/ppacacon.pdf
@Seattleisaslew @Getov Mylon The Medical Device Tax is not in the ACA? Really?Â
Well, thanks for teeing this one up for me:
So I went to my Right Wing Rush Glenn Beck  Fox News website-oddly enough called- "healthcare.gov," an information site under the auspices of the OBAMA Administration.  So if you will follow me to page 810, Sub-chapter E, Section 4191, Paragraph A of the "PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
HEALTH-RELATED PORTIONS OF THE HEALTH CARE AND
EDUCATION RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2010," which reads:
ââ(a) IN GENERAL.âThere is hereby imposed on the sale of anyÂ
taxable medical device by the manufacturer, producer, or importerÂ
a tax equal to 2.3 percent of the price for which so sold. "
Of course, The Minnesota delegation (Bluer than Blue) is fighting tooth and nail to repeal the tax  because it is a job killer in their State. Maybe they should re-read the ACA because according to you, it's not there, so no jobs could possibly be lost. Go figure.
@Getov Mylon @Seattleisaslew Like I said that has absolutely nothing to do with what Corps negotiate with insurance companies for health care. You obviously DID NOT read the bill properly. "see Medical Device Tax and job losses at companies in Blue States" this is not the bill. Obviously reading a bunch of right wing garbage does not make you look like an expert.
Thank you CenturyLink workers! LOVE that they're striking to bring more workers back to America!! This is actually something I support! Tired of talking to people in other countries when I am paying an American company in American dollars. Â
I'm surprised there still in business...
@WindowseatMe to, their service stinks. I ported my phone number over to a different carrier and they showed up on my door step the next night at 8:00PM. I told them to leave and shut the door.  They stood outside and yelled at me for a minute or so. They then called me the next day so I blocked that number. I disconnected because half the time I picked up the phone it was dead air. If I did get a dial tone I dialed and kept getting this voice telling me either the phone call did not go through or the call could not be completed as dialed. Digital readout shows call was dialed correctly. I won't get into the nightmare they created when they "migrated' my cell phone to Verizon and disconnected my business land line in the process, which had nothing to do with the cell other than being on the same account.
Well then, like the Hostess workers, they could just end up ,losing their jobs...then they can have a job fair at "Unemployment Field"
I don't know one person who says that they are happy with Centurylink's service.Â
@The WA Mama If they raise the rates again I'm done with them
CLINK!
I HATE Centurylink!
I've never dealt with worse customer service than centurylink. A pile of rocks is easier to get an answer out of.
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@32jim2Â I had the same problem in a former house. Get yourself the Magicjack Plus (not the original). Plug it into your router and it works as advertised. Best $80 bucks + $20 annually ever spent.
Disclaimer: I have no relationship to MJ and am not a paid spokesman.
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@32jim2 @Getov Mylon So use Comcast. Anyone that has  HSI and a landline that is not a MJ is a fool.
I don't know what the issues are here, but I AM glad that I didn't settle for DSL and kept my Comcast T1 connection...
- Unionized CenturyLink workers in 13 western states, including Washington, are moving closer to striking.
The union and CenturyLink have been unable to reach a new contract to cover 13,000 employees who formerly worked for Qwest Communications
I am confused are they or are they not union ? And since when does unions care if jobs are overseas or not ....Unions must be  running out of paying workers ..
@InMyOpinion As a union worker, let me be the first to ask:Â
HUH?
I do not see haw a strike can make their service any worse than it already is. The computers will still be there to prevent people from reaching a real person when you try to call customer service.
They don't need the computers for that. CenturyLink doesn't empower their representatives to even do their jobs as they were hired to do.