Striking Verizon workers in St. Lawrence County were among those expected to return to work Tuesday, according Communications Workers Local 1128 Pres. Tom Allen.

Allen said the 45,000 workers along the East Coast would return to work after 17 days off the job, agreeing to go back because they believe now that "Verizon has agreed to bargain seriously."

The CWA had sent pickets out, including workers in Potsdam, over failure to reach agreement on a contract with the telephone giant.

The union said Verizon was demanding more than 100 concessions from workers— on health coverage, pensions and other matters — and was not backing off many of them.

Verizon executives say far-reaching concessions are needed because of a long-term drop in revenue and profit in its land-line telephone business and because of intense competition in television and Internet services.

CWA Local 1128 represents workers in Massena, Malone, Ogdensburg, and Potsdam.