Verizon workers in Philly among those on strike

    Workers in Philadelphia are among the tens of thousands of Verizon Communications Inc. employees on strike after talks broke down with the telecommunications company.

    About a dozen red-shirted strikers and officials of the Communications Workers of America were outside two downtown buildings yesterday morning, and they’ll be there again today–a protest is set to begin at Ninth and Race Streets at 8 a.m.

    At the center of the contract negotiations, which began June 22, are the costs of health care, pensions and work rules.

    The union says the concessions are unjustified since the company is highly profitable. But Verizon says business is declining and employees now contribute nothing for health care premiums.

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