How CenturyLink and its largest union finally closed the gap

In early July, CenturyLink and its largest union didn't appear much closer to reaching a new pact despite holding nearly 100 bargaining sessions over more than 10 months, raising the possibility that thousands of workers would strike.

Then last week, top lawyers from both sides jumped into the mix, with the Monroe, La.-based company's general counsel, Stacey Goff, flying in to Denver for meetings with union attorney Richard Rosenblatt.

Their presence at the bargaining table was "very helpful" in moving the needle and setting the stage for the tentative agreement that was reached this week, said CWA District 7 spokesman Al Kogler.

"I certainly don't want to minimize the work of all the folks that have been pounding it out for the last almost a year," Kogler said Wednesday. "But sometimes when people that are little more detached and they can kind of take that 10,000 foot view, it can help to move things along."

The attorneys, along with the top two representatives from the respective bargaining committees, met several times last week.

"That was kind of what put the framework together and then they were able to come to agreement on all of the details (Tuesday)," Kogler said.

The multiyear contract, announced late Tuesday, will cover about 12,000 workers, according to CenturyLink. The CWA said 11,000 company employees in 13 states are members of the union, including about 2,000 in Colorado.

"Both sides have made concessions in order to reach agreement," CenturyLink spokesman Mark Molzen said Wednesday. "We are pleased that we have come to an agreement that provides our employees fair and equitable benefits and will better enable us to deliver on our mutual commitment to serve our customers."

Ballots for the ratification vote are due Sept. 27. The contract would expire in October 2017. The previous contract expired last October, though it has been extended on a temporary basis since then.

CenturyLink, the state's largest landline phone service provider, said the new pact would provide the company with operational flexibility, mitigate in-house pay disparities and offer employees pay and benefits that are more closely aligned with similar jobs in their markets.

CWA, meanwhile, said the deal "provides lump sum increases and wage increases" and includes a commitment from the company "to return jobs that have been outsourced and offshored." The union's membership covers call center operators, network technicians and other front-line employees.

Andy Vuong : 303-954-1209, avuong@denverpost.com or fb.com/byandyvuong

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