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The
strike, one of the largest at Verizon in recent years, was
called by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
The unions jointly represent nearly 40,000 employees in
Verizon's wireline operations, which include Fios Internet,
telephone and TV services.
Verizon said on Wednesday it had trained "thousands" of
non-union employees to ensure that services were not disrupted.
The last round of contract negotiations in 2011 also led to a
strike. A new contract was reached two weeks later.
Verizon and the unions have been in talks since last June over
the company's plans to cut healthcare and pension-related
benefits over a three-year period.
Wireline workers have been working out of contract since the
last agreement expired in August. Issues still on the table
include healthcare, offshoring call center jobs, work rules and
pensions.
(Reporting by Malathi Nayak and Rishika Sadam; Editing by
Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)
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