NEW YORK -- Verizon Communications Inc. and two unions representing some 65,000 of its workers have agreed to "stop the clock" on contracts that were set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

One of the unions, the Communications Workers of America, says a strike has been postponed "in light of progress that has been made" in the negotiations.

The CWA, which represents about 50,000 workers, says the current contracts remain in effect as talks continue.

The other union is the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Major bargaining issues include health care coverage for employees and retirees, wages and union representation for new job areas.