ALBANY, N.Y. — Thousands of striking workers in Verizon Communication Inc.’s landline division joined picket lines and rallies this morning at the company’s work locations from Massachusetts to Virginia, a union official said.

The contract for 45,000 employees expired at midnight Saturday after the company and the workers were unable to come to terms on issues including health care costs and pensions. The dispute does not affect the wireless division at Verizon, the nation’s largest wireless carrier.

Hundreds of workers showed up today at Verizon’s headquarters in Manhattan, holding up signs that read “On Strike Against Verizon Corporate Greed” and “On Strike for Middle Class Jobs at Verizon,” said Robert Master, a Communications Workers of American spokesman.

Picket lines also were going up in Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C., Master said.

The striking workers are responsible for maintaining and repairing traditional landlines, as well as installing the company’s fiber-optic FiOS service, Master said.

Verizon spokesman Richard Young said thousands of managers have been sent to help work in the affected states.

“We’ve been preparing for a strike or other adverse job action for many months. We always knew a strike was a possibility,” Young said. “We’re 100 percent prepared. We’re confident in our ability to continue to provide the best possible customer service.”

By The Associated Press