(InfoWorld) - About 25,000 members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) remained at work at Qwest Communications International Monday even though the union's contract with the telecom provider expired Sunday.

CWA's executive board voted Saturday to authorize a strike if negotiations were unsuccessful, following a union membership vote in favor of a strike earlier this month. But the CWA announced Saturday its members would continue to work, even though the two sides remained "far apart on many crucial issues."

Progress was being made during weekend negotiations, CWA District 7 Vice President Annie Hill said in a press release.

A Qwest spokesman said the company is looking forward to reaching an agreement. "Qwest and the union continue to bargain in good faith," said Bob Toevs, company spokesman.

Qwest, which has about 40,000 employees, would continue to provide service in the event of a strike, Toevs said. "With any bargaining cycle, we have extensive contingency plans in place," Toevs said. "Our goal is to provide the high level of customer service our customers expect."

CWA represents Qwest employees in 13 states in the western U.S., and union members include technicians, customer service representatives and physical plant workers.

Among the issues remaining are rising health-care costs, the Qwest pension plan, wages and mandatory overtime, the CWA said. Qwest was fined US$250 million by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in October 2004 as part of an accounting practices investigation, and CWA members there have stuck with the company despite a three-year wage freeze, according to the CWA.

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