VZ Verizon Communications Inc

By Ryan Knutson 

Verizon Communications Inc. missed its midnight deadline to secure a deal with more than 37,000 union employees in nine states, but the unions said employees will keep working without a contract while talks continue.

Verizon's two largest unions, the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, went on a two-week strike the last time the sides negotiated a new contract, in 2011.

Verizon is looking to reduce retirement benefits and wants employees to shoulder more health-care costs. The unions want added benefits in those areas as well as job security provisions.

The unions only cover the company's wireline technicians and wireline call center staff.

Write to Ryan Knutson at ryan.knutson@wsj.com

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