TELECOMMUNICATIONS

AT&T;, Unions Face Contract Deadline: American Telephone & Telegraph Co. and two unions representing about 110,000 workers acknowledge that critical issues remain unresolved as the deadline of midnight tonight looms. Although AT&T; spokesman Herb Linnen said he believes both sides want to avoid a strike, he added that the company has taken precautions to ensure that high-quality service continue in any emergency. “A great deal of the service we provide is automated and most people dial their calls directly,” he said. “We’re still very far apart on the major issues in these talks,” said James Irvine, vice president of the Communications Workers of America, which is negotiating jointly with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Those issues include wages and pensions, employment security and union access to jobs in AT&T; units currently outside its jurisdiction.