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Union workers at Qwest Communications International rejected a proposed three-year contract on Tuesday. But so far, there doesn't seem to be a threat of a strike.

Representatives of the Communications Workers of America and Qwest said they'd meet again this week to continue talks, according to the Associated Press. CWA represents roughly 29,000 Qwest employees in 13 states. Qwest is the primary phone company in 14 Western states.

Union members had authorized a strike when the contract expired in August, but the workers continued working. The two sides reached a tentative agreement days later.

Qwest representatives told the AP that the contract proposal included raises of more than 9 percent over three years. It also increased pension benefits for new retirees, and it would have increased base pay of sales staff. But it also would have added a monthly premium for health coverage. Previously, employees paid only enrollment fees.

Qwest Communications International has reached a tentative agreement with two labor unions averting a potential strike that could have disrupted service for the Democratic and Republican national conventions to be held in the next few weeks.

On Monday, Qwest and its largest labor union, the Communications Workers of America, said that they had agreed on a three-year deal that will cover some 20,000 Qwest employees in 13 states who are represented by the union.

Qwest also reached a tentative agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents employees in Montana.

Qwest's union workers had authorized a strike if a settlement was not reached between the two sides starting when their contracts expired at 11:59 p.m. Saturday. But a deal was reached, averting the strike. Details of the plan were not released, and the general membership of the unions still must approve it.

Qwest, based in Denver, is providing communication services for the Democratic National Convention, which will be held there in a little more than a week. Qwest also is providing service for the Republican National Convention, which begins September 1 in St. Paul, Minn.

Officials had worried that a strike would disrupt the conventions. Now that a tentative agreement has been reached, an organizer for the CWA told the Associated Press that he does not expect any disruptions from his union members during the conventions.

Qwest Communications union members voted Sunday to authorize a strike if the union can't negotiate an acceptable contract.

About 93 percent of Qwest's employees in the Communications Workers of America union voted to allow its leaders to authorize the strike if they can't work out a deal with management. Contracts for some 20,000 Qwest workers expire at 12:01 a.m. next Sunday, the Associated Press reported.

Qwest, which is based in Denver, is providing communication services for the Democratic and Republican conventions. The Democratic National Convention, which is to be held in Denver, begins August 25. The Republican National Convention in St. Paul begins September 1.

A strike of the workers could potentially disrupt these events. But even if a deal isn't reached between the two parties by the time the current contracts expire, it would not mean that the workers would automatically strike. The union could extend discussions with management until a deal is reached.

Verizon Communications, which was in a similar situation, just reached a deal over the weekend with the CWA and another union. And it's workers did not strike.

The last time the Communications Workers held a strike at Qwest was in 1998, the Associated Press reported.

Qwest workers in the CWA union work in 13 states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.