VERIZON NEAR STRIKE DEADLINE.(BUSINESS)

Byline: GREG TOPPO Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Unions representing 85,500 telephone workers in a dozen Eastern states said they will walk off the job at midnight if contract talks don't produce an agreement on wages, benefits, job security, working conditions and access to nonunion workers.

Communication Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union negotiators on Friday were reviewing a proposal from Verizon Communications addressing many of the issues, Verizon and union officials said.

The unions were preparing for a strike that could take about 85,500 workers off the job in 12 states and the District of Columbia. …