I work for Qwest our call center employees currently make no more than you did 10 years ago and retail not a whole lot more. I pay monthly for my insurance plus high deductibles and copays. This is not US West. I have been with the company almost 4 years and don't make much more than you did. There is also a cap on how much an employee can make once you reach that cap there are no more raises. Our current employees went over 3 years with no raise so Qwest could get back on it's feet. Would you have done the same? I have kids that make almost as much as I do after just a couple of months on the job. No deception on the part of the workers. The workers are the ones that have made the company profitable and the ones that uphold the "Spirit of Service" all we are asking for is a fair wage. 10 years ago $9.66 an hour was a fair wage it's not anymore especially when state minimum wages are over $8.00 an hour. Look up job opportunities for call center or retail employees and see what the wage is and while your looking at it remember part is commission and it is the same no matter what state you are in or the cost of living there.