Verizon Workers Walk Off Job on East Coast

(CN) - Nearly 40,000 union workers of Verizon walked off the job on the East Coast on Wednesday chagrined that little progress has been made in negotiations since their contract expired in August 2015.

Those now picketing the company in nine states and the District of Columbia are members of the International Brother of Electrical Workers and the Communications Workers of America. They include customer service employees, installers, repairmen and woman and service workers.

Keith Purce, president of CWA Local 1101, which represents about 3,500 workers in Manhattan and the Bronx, told the Associated Press "We're on strike to main good jobs and maintain our standard of living.

Verizon spokesman Rich Young said the company was disappointed that a strike had been called, but that the company has trained thousands of non0union workers to respond to "be there for our customers."

Contract talks broke off last week. No new talks have been scheduled.

Photo caption:

Verizon workers picket outside one of the company's facilities Wednesday, April 13, 2016, in Philadelphia. Verizon landline and cable workers on the East Coast walked off the job Wednesday morning after little progress in negotiations since their contract expired nearly eight months ago. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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