Verizon workers on strike: 40,000 employees walk out over contract dispute

Almost 40,000 Verizon workers are officially on strike after contract negotiations fell flat, Reuters reports. It’s unclear how the strike will affect Verizon’s wired service across the East Coast. The walkout does not include employees from the company’s wireless business.

Verizon previously said that it had trained thousands of non-union workers to take over in such a situation, but Fios internet, landline and TV service could still take a hit.

“They have given people some training but they have no experience,” said a union representative from the Communications Workers of America (CWA). “There’s no way that these 10,000 people… can make up for 40,000 people who have decades of experience.”

Verizon employees have been working without a contract since the last one expired in August. The union is demanding better pay and working conditions, alonging with less outsourcing. In response, Verizon has argued that it needs to cut benefits as its legacy wireline business continues to decline.