CenturyLink, CWA Come to Terms on Contract

CenturyLink workers this week ratified a contract that covers about 10,300 employees in 13 different states including Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

The agreement with the telco extends the current contract by three years. It includes wage increases of 3 percent, 2.5 percent and 2.5 percent, per year, during the term of the agreement. The employees are members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 7.

“CenturyLink is pleased that CWA District 7 members have voted to ratify the agreement extension we reached with them in May,” said Mark Molzen, CenturyLink spokesman. “The new collective bargaining agreement will expire March 28, 2020. CenturyLink is proud of the service our represented employees provide to our customers and the agreement will better enable us to deliver on our commitment to serve our customers.”

The CWA said in late 2016 CenturyLink “made it clear … that they wanted to roll back health and welfare benefits, increasing out of pocket costs and deductibles.” It also indicated “they wanted changes to disability, pensions, life insurance, and the 401(k) plan,” the union said.

“This contract is a win for CenturyLink workers,” said Al Kogler, CWA District 7 spokesman. “We made substantial gains in base wages that will help offset the rising cost of health care for our members, and preserved the current pension and 401(k) plan.”

Last month, CenturyLink technicians and other workers in Florida who are members of the CWA rejected a proposed contract and approved a strike authorization vote. There have been no new developments regarding those workers, Molzen said.