Lucent, 2 Unions Extend Talks

Lucent Technologies Inc. and two labor unions agreed Sunday to give themselves one more day to avoid a possible strike.

Both sides faced a midnight Sunday deadline but extended that to 12:01 a.m. EST Tuesday.

Lucent’s contract with two unions expired at the end of October.

Both sides have been meeting in Washington since Oct. 7 but have been unable to agree on a new pact.

“The company and the unions made progress on several issues but want additional time to more fully explore the complex issue of retiree healthcare,” Murray Hill, N.J.-based Lucent said in a statement.

One of the unresolved issues is whether retirees should contribute to the cost of their health insurance, and if so, how much. Other issues include outsourcing and job security.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation, is hosting the negotiations.

The contract covers about 3,250 employees nationwide. All but 250 of the workers are represented by the Communications Workers of America. The rest are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Lucent has about 31,800 workers worldwide.