CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. -- Hundreds of Verizon workers in Buffalo are joining a nationwide strike against the company. The strike includes close to 40,000 workers in nine eastern states and Washington, D.C. 

Gathering in front of a Verizon Wireless in Cheektowaga, area employees and union members assembled Wednesday as a part of a strike that started with hundreds of workers walking off the job around 6 a.m.

The strike began after contract negotiations between the company and the Local Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers unions came to a standstill. 

"Verizon, $1.8 billion in clear profit a month, there's no reason to do this, they want to do this," said CWA Local 1122 president, James Wagner. 

Union officials believe with so many workers on strike, customers should expect delays in customer service. 

"Most of our members have well over 20 years of service in the field doing this work, delivering for the Verizon customer. When you take that talent and skill out of the field, that cannot be replaced and there will be an effect, unfortunately," said Wagner. 

Verizon released a statement saying they have trained thousands of non-union Verizon employees and business partners in verious network and customer service functions to compensate for a potential work stoppage. Union members find it hard to believe the company would use the time and resources neccesary to train that many replacements. 

"You get hired into this corporation, this company, and you say you go into construction, a linemen it takes about two years to get up to speed, qualified-wise. This company couldn't have trained that many people and if they did, shame on them," said CWA executive vice president, John Mudie. 

"The company is understaffed today, there's not enough people on the job today, doing their work, maintaining their network, the resources are just not there," added Wagner. 

Union leaders say they are working in the best interest of the local customer. 

"We'd like this company to invest in the plant that's out there now and build their FIOS product in other areas rather than just wherever they decide this is a high speed broadband its top of the line and should be available to all,"said Mudie. 

Bob Mudge, president of Verizon's wireline network operations said in a statement:

"Our customers are our first priority and we are ready to respond."