45,000 Verizon workers strike in US

45,000 unionised Verizon Communications Inc. workers went on strike in the US on Sunday after negotiations with the telecommunications company over a new labour contract fizzled.

The Communications Workers of America said negotiations in Philadelphia and New York stalled on Saturday night after Verizon continued to demand more than 100 concessions from workers regarding health care, pensions and work rules.

Mark Reed, Verizon's executive vice president of human resources, called the outcome of the unions' actions "regrettable" for customers and employees.

"We will continue to do our part to reach a new contract that reflects today's economic realities in our wireline business and addresses the needs of all parties," he said in a statement.

The contract that expired midnight on Saturday covers 45,000 workers, including 10,000 represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who serve as telephone and repair technicians, customer service representatives, operators and more.

Contract negotiations began on June 22.

"Even at the 11th hour, as contracts were set to expire, Verizon continued to seek to strip away 50 years of collective bargaining gains for middle class workers and their families," CWA said in a statement on Sunday.

New York-based Verizon, the nation's largest wireless carrier, has 196,000 workers; 135,000 are non-union.

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