Union leaders representing CenturyLink workers in 13 states have moved closer to allowing a strike but contract talks with the telecommunications company are continuing.

The Communication Workers of America said Thursday that its executive board authorized the union's president to set a strike date, which would be the final step in going on strike.

Union spokesman Al Kogler says nothing is imminent and the union still hopes to reach a good contract for 13,000 employees who formerly worked for Qwest Communications. They include customer service agents, network technicians and Internet support workers.

Sticking points include increased health care premiums and jobs offshoring. A CenturyLink spokesman says its proposal would bring premiums in line with the national average over several years. It has also proposed returning some jobs to the United States but wouldn't say how many.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Union leaders representing CenturyLink workers in 13 states moved closer Thursday to allowing a strike but plan to keep negotiating with the telecommunications company.

The Communication Workers of America announced its executive board authorized the union's president to set a strike date, the final step before going on strike.

"There's nothing imminent. Our goal remains to get a good contract," union spokesman Al Kogler said.

The Monroe, La.-based company didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

Kogler said the main sticking points in the talks include a proposed 350 percent increase in health care premiums, bringing jobs that have been moved overseas, including customer service slots, back to the U.S., and using fewer contract workers domestically, replacing them with staff workers.

CenturyLink and the union have been negotiating for six months on a new contract for 13,000 employees who formerly worked for Qwest Communications. It's the first time CenturyLink has negotiated with the union since it acquired Denver-based Qwest in 2011 in a deal that turned it into the nation's third-largest telephone company.

The employees include customer service agents, network technicians and Internet support workers in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, North Dakota, New Mexico, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

In October, 88 percent of the workers voted to authorize a strike. The executive board took its vote on Wednesday.

About 100 CenturyLink workers in Montana are represented by another union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. They're not involved in the CenturyLink negotiations, although Kogler said they have previously signed contracts similar to ones that CenturyLink reached with Qwest.