A strike by Illinois Bell operators was averted late Saturday night when the officials from the phone company and the Communications Workers of America agreed to continue contract negotiations.
Talks were suspended late Saturday night and are to resume 10 a.m. Sunday, despite a midnight deadline, said Larry Cose, Illinois Bell spokesman. ”Both sides have agreed to continue negotiating,” Cose said. ”Both sides want a contract that will benefit both sides. Neither side wants a strike or to see a strike.”
Illinois Bell is a subsidiary of Chicago-based Ameritech Corp., which has companies in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio.
Wages, health care and pension benefits are still at issue between the company and the union, which has 2,800 workers who are primarily operators, Cose said.
Cose said he couldn`t speculate on when negotiations may be over and said no cutoff point has been established. The current contract is to remain in effect while the sides talk, he said.
