Us West Talks Will Likely Extend Beyond Deadline

Eager to avoid a strike, local US West workers passed out balloons and leaflets Friday on the corner of 2nd and Stevens while union leaders in Denver negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement.

At 11 p.m. tonight, contracts expire for 33,000 US West workers in 14 states, including 500 Spokane employees. But even if the Communications Workers of America and US West managers cannot reach a settlement on pension benefits, wages and medical coverage by the deadline, negotiations will likely continue, managers and union leaders say.

“As far as we know, we’re willing to sit and bargain as long as they’re willing to stay at the table,” said Ed Wood, executive vice president for local 7818. “We will do whatever it takes to bring in a contract.”

Friday’s rally was an effort to bolster public support and unite workers. “It’s to show solidarity and let everyone in the city to know that the workers here are working their ever-loving tails off to provide service and get the work done,” Wood said.

US West has been struggling to maintain its public image because of ongoing service problems throughout the West.

The only way workers would strike is if the president of the Washington, D.C.-based Communication Workers of America authorizes it, Wood said. That’s unlikely, he added.

Union members have already drawn up their contract and sent it to management officials, but Wood could not divulge what workers demands were until both sides put forth their contracts. Denver-based US West management has not yet released its new roster of wages and benefits packages, according to a corporate news release.

The two sides are “very close” to an agreement on medical benefits, and the sides are nearing consensus on dental benefits, Wood said.

Sharon Matthews, community affairs manager for US West in Spokane, said she could not comment on the negotiations. Instead, she referred to a corporate news release that alluded to why negotiations have been difficult.

“US West Communications has the reputation of being a ‘good place to work’ - especially in terms of providing competitive compensation and benefits,” the news release stated.

“But it needs to find smarter ways to do so in light of soaring costs. That may mean changing health care and other benefit processes in an effort to control costs.”

, DataTimes