CRANBERRY TWP — The nationwide strike by the Communications Workers of America has reached local Verizon outlets.

Four CWA members who didn’t want to give their names were on strike Monday in front of the Verizon retail store at the Streets of Cranberry.

They said they are trying to keep jobs in the U.S.

Problems the CWA has with Verizon include closing call centers to move jobs to overseas areas, reducing employees’ health benefits with increased costs and taking away retiree benefits, they said.

“They’re abandoning the copper (landline) network. They’re not supplying customers with the needed facilities for their houses,” said Tom Crawford, CWA Local 13000 Regional vice president. “They’re relying on Verizon Wireless to take all the work.”

About 39,000 CWA members nationwide have been on strike since April 13, and about 4,000 of those are from Western Pennsylvania.

Crawford said the union members want a fair contract to come out of the strike.

“We’ve been bargaining for a contract for the last 10 months,” he said.

Verizon was not available for comment.