SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                   FORM 12b-25

                                               Commission File Number 1-7784

     NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING


(Check One):   [_] Form 10-K    [X] Form 11-K    [_] Form 20-F    [_] Form 10-Q
               [_] Form N-SAR

          For Period Ended:          DECEMBER 31, 2000
                                     -----------------
     [_]  Transition Report on Form 10-K

     [_]  Transition Report on Form 20-F

     [_]  Transition Report on Form 11-K

     [_]  Transition Report on Form 10-Q

     [_]  Transition Report on Form N-SAR

          For the Transition Period Ended:  N/A
                                            ---
     Read attached  instruction  sheet before  preparing  form.  Please print or
type.

     Nothing in this form shall be  construed to imply that the  Commission  has
verified any information contained herein.

     If the  notification  relates  to a portion of the  filing  checked  above,
identify the item(s) to which the notification relates:   N/A
                                                        --------


PART I -    REGISTRANT INFORMATION


Full Name of Plan -  CENTURYTEL, INC. UNION RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST
                     -----------------------------------------------------------

Former Name of Plan -  CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC. RETIREMENT SAVINGS
                        PLAN FOR BARGAINING UNIT EMPLOYEES AND TRUST
                       ---------------------------------------------------------

Full Name of Registrant - CENTURYTEL, INC.
                          ------------------------------------------------------

Address of principal executive office - 100 CENTURYTEL DRIVE, MONROE, LA. 71203
                                        ----------------------------------------


PART II - RULE 12b-25(b) AND (c)

     If the subject  report could not be filed  without  unreasonable  effort or
expense  and  the  registrant  seeks  relief  pursuant  to Rule  12b-25(b),  the
following should be completed. (Check box if appropriate.)

 [X] |    (a)  The reasons  described in  reasonable  detail in Part III of this
     |         form  could  not be  eliminated  without  unreasonable  effort or
     |         expense;
     |
 [X] |    (b)  The subject annual report,  semi-annual report, transition report
     |         on Form 10-K,  20-F,  11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof will
     |         be filed  on or  before  the  15th  calendar  day  following  the
     |         prescribed  due  date;  or  the  subject   quarterly   report  or
     |         transition  report on Form 10-Q, or portion thereof will be filed
     |         on or before the fifth  calendar day following the prescribed due
     |         date; and
     |
     |    (c)  The  accountant's  statement  or other  exhibit  required by Rule
     |         12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.


PART III - NARRATIVE

     State below in reasonable detail why the Form 10-K, 11-K, 20-F, 10-Q, N-SAR
or the  transition  report  portion  thereof  could  not  be  filed  within  the
prescribed time period. (Attach extra sheets if needed.)

          The  CenturyTel,  Inc.  Union  Retirement  Savings  Plan and  Trust is
     administered  by a  third-party  plan  trustee.  The plan changed  trustees
     effective  September 1, 2000. The  non-discrimination  testing that must be
     performed  prior to completion of the plan's Annual Report on Form 11-K for
     the year ended December 31, 2000 (the "Report") has been delayed due to the
     plan initially receiving incorrect data from the previous plan trustee. The
     corrected  data has been  received by the plan and it is  currently  in the
     process of performing the  non-discrimination  testing. The plan expects to
     complete  the required  non-discrimination  testing and file the Report and
     the accompanying  Financial  Statements prior to the date indicated in Part
     II(b) above.

PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION

(1)  Name  and  telephone  number  of  person  to  contact  in  regard  to  this
     notification

        NEIL A. SWEASY                             (318) 388-9817
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       (Name)                     (Area Code) (Telephone Number)

(2)  Have all other periodic  reports  required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act
     of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter  period that the
     registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed? If the answer is
     no, identify report(s).
                                                             [X] Yes  [_] No

(3)  Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations from
     the corresponding  period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the
     earnings  statements  to be  included  in the  subject  report  or  portion
     thereof?
                                             N/A             [_] Yes  [_] No

     If so: attach an explanation of the anticipated  change,  both  narratively
and  quantitatively,  and, if  appropriate,  state the reasons why a  reasonable
estimate of the results cannot be made.


        CENTURYTEL, INC. UNION RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name of Plan filing this Form)

Has  caused  this  notification  to be signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.


Date  JUNE 29, 2001                By   /S/ R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
    -------------------            ---------------------------------------------
                                        R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                                        Retirement Committee Member and
                                         Executive Officer of CenturyTel, Inc.


          INSTRUCTION:  The form may be signed by an  executive  officer  of the
     registrant  or by any other duly  authorized  representative.  The name and
     title of the person signing the form shall be typed or printed  beneath the
     signature.  If the  statement is signed on behalf of the  registrant  by an
     authorized  representative  (other than an executive officer),  evidence of
     the representative's authority to sign on behalf of the registrant shall be
     filed with the form.


                                    ATTENTION

     Intentional  misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal
Violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001).