Verizon, unions still talking as deadline looms

NEW YORK Representatives of the telecommunications giant and one of the unions, the Communications Workers of America, said negotiators were working Saturday, but no deal had been reached. The unions have threatened to strike if there's no agreement by 12:01 a.m.

Monday.

CWA spokeswoman Candace Johnson calls Saturday's talks "pretty intensive." Verizon spokesman Eric Rabe says the company is "optimistic."

The company's contract with the CWA and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers expired last weekend. Members have kept working under the old contract.

A strike could delay installations and repairs of phone and broadband lines.