Qwest Communications workers in 13 states have authorized their union to call a strike if necessary once the contract expires at the start of next week. Ninety-three percent of 20,000 workers gave the strike authorization to the Communications Workers of America, District 7 negotiating body. The union represents workers throughout the nation west of the Mississippi, including Denver, Colorado, where the company is based. The main issues on the table are job quality and healthcare and retirement security. The union will have extra leverage if a strike becomes necessary, because the contract expires one week before the Democratic National Convention is scheduled to take place in Denver.