Union Workers Authorize Strike at Qwest

DENVER (AP) — Members of the largest employee union at Qwest Communications International voted on Sunday to authorize a strike if talks fail to produce a new contract.þþQwest, based in Denver, is providing communication services at the Democratic and Republican conventions and has committed $6 million worth of cash and in-kind services to each.þþThe Communications Workers of America District 7 union said 93 percent of voting members had authorized its leaders to call a strike if needed.þþA contract covering about 20,000 union workers at Qwest expires 12:01 a.m. next Sunday, a little more than a week before the Democratic National Convention in Denver. The Republican National Convention begins Sept. 1 in St. Paul.þþEven if a new contract is not reached before the existing one expires, union members would not necessarily go on strike.þþThe last time the Communications Workers held a strike at Qwest was in 1998, a spokesman for District 7, Al Kogler, said.þþThe talks cover workers in 13 states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. þþ