Contract negotiations between AT&T and Communication Workers of America union members have yet to net results. 

About a third of Rio Grande Valley workers with CWA Local 6229 picketed Thursday evening outside the AT&T building to warn the company without a new contract they are ready to walk off the job.

"We're here to show AT&T we mean business,” said CWA Local 6229 mobilization coordinator Oscar Sauceda.

The contract deadline is Saturday right before the stroke of midnight. 

A possible strike would affect thousands of workers including service representatives who take calls about landlines and U-Verse. 

Cell phones and internet services reportedly will not be affected.

Company representatives at AT&T say they do not expect a work stoppage, but should one occur, they say a contingency plan is in place to keep services running. 

The biggest sticking point between the union and the company is health care. 

The telecom giant says on average the union only pays 8 percent of their yearly costs. 

But to be more competitive, AT&T needs them to be in line with other unions and AT&T workers. 

Christine Houser disagrees. 

"If they were in trouble... that's be a different story... they're making money in the tough economic times,” Houser said.

And while the contract deadline looms hope remains their message of unity will “reach out and touch someone” at the top.