Sioux City may get a big new employer. There’ve been persistent rumors about a “large corporate entity” interested in Sioux City. Qwest officials may be interested in locating a telephone “call center” in town, which would bring 250 union jobs to Sioux City. City manager Paul Eckert told reporters he still can’t talk specifics, but such a plan would bring what’s lacking now in terms of good-paying jobs. The city manager says it’s his understanding that “good union jobs with full benefits” would be associated with anything Qwest brought in. Eckert says that would likely include benefits including complete health, dental and vision coverage, though he said he still “can’t speak to anything” with certainty. Qwest has made a reported $6.3 Billion bid to buy long-distance carrier M-C-I, which may also be waiting for a bid from rival Verizon. It’s not clear what any sale of MCI would mean for the 1,000 jobs currently at MCI’s call center in Sergeant Bluff, a suburb just outside Sioux City.
