US West Labor Talks Stalled

US West Inc., which was seeking to extend its contract with about 35,000 workers, said Sunday that it couldn’t reach an agreement with the union and will leave in place the current labor pact, which expires in August 2001.

The telecommunications company said it held two days of negotiations with the Communications Workers of America.

Denver-based US West proposed the extension to quell fears that Qwest Communications International Inc., which agreed last year to acquire US West for about $50.9 billion, could try to break up the union.

The offer “remains on the table,” Trujillo said.

On Friday in New York Stock Exchange trading, US West shares closed at $70.50, down 19 cents, and Qwest rose 50 cents to close at $46.25.