86 percent of Verizon Communication’s East Coast wireline unit workers have authorized a strike ahead of their August 1st contraction expiration date. The unions themselves, the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have not yet approved the strikes. The workers are disputing job security elimination, health care cost increases, and retirement security cuts. Verizon offered salary increases in late June to the same employees and claims that strike authorization votes are a waste of time.
See "Verizon wireline workers authorize strike amid contract negotiations", Malathi Nayak, July 27, 2015