By Josh Long

A bargaining team for the union representing CenturyLink workers who were previously employed by Qwest Communications has opened negotiations with the telecommunications company.

In a newsletter, the Communications Workers of America noted the talks commenced on Wednesday.

Mark Molzen, a spokesman for CenturyLink, said the company recently began working on collective bargaining agreements with the CWA and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, covering 13,000-plus legacy Qwest workers. The current contracts expire Oct. 6., he said.

CenturyLink, based in Monroe, La., last year acquired Denver-based Qwest in a deal the Denver Post reported was valued at $24 billion.

The CWA said it represents roughly 12,000 CenturyLink workers in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and Washington.