CENTURYLINK WORKERS AUTHORIZE POSSIBLE STRIKE

CenturyLink workers in 13 states in the West and Midwest are authorizing a strike, if union leaders and the telecommunications company can't reach a contract agreement.

That includes workers in Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska. The Communications Workers of America said Monday that more than 88 percent of those voting backed the action.

The union and Monroe, La.-based CenturyLink are trying to reach a new contract for 13,000 employees before the current contract expires Saturday night. The employees include customer service agents, network technicians and Internet support workers.

The company operates a call center here in Sioux City.

Union spokesman Al Kogler said the CWA opposes a proposed increase in health care premiums and wants to bring more jobs back to the U.S. The union approved a strike during contract talks in 2008 but a work stoppage wasn't ordered.

Some content from Associated Press