Pittsburgh City Council, in its first discussion of a proposed agreement that would bring Verizon FiOS TV service to city residents, wrestled with union requests for more local jobs today.

Terri Senich, executive secretary/treasurer for the Communication Workers of America, asked council to demand a local payment center as a condition for allowing the telecommunications giant to enter the city cable market, which is now served only by Comcast.

Verizon's centers "provide good pay and benefits for any city residents that may be hired," said Ms. Senich. Having a city payment center also is good for customers, she said, because it "is important to be able to talk to the company representative face to face," especially if they have a problem like broken equipment.

William Carnahan, vice president of external affairs, said Verizon doesn't have face-to-face customer centers anywhere in Pennsylvania, and he did not know whether other cities had such offices.

He told council that the company has a collection call center on Downtown's Stanwix Street, sales and service center in Robinson Township, and Verizon Wireless center in Cranberry. Verizon has 1,700 people working within the city limits, and employs 800 city residents, he said after council's meeting.

"There are an awful lot of citizens that don't have vehicles in the city," said Councilwoman Darlene Harris. "We need to make sure that the residents of Pittsburgh have some place in Pittsburgh, not out in Robinson."

Councilman Ricky Burgess warned against too much tampering with the 46-page pact negotiated between the city and Verizon.

He said he suspects that council members "will add countless amendments to the franchise agreement, pandering to whatever interest is their choice" leading to a "prolonged, protracted" process that will "hold the residents of the city of Pittsburgh without choice."

He wants council to hold a required public hearing, and vote to approve the pact before its annual recess starts on Aug. 5.

Council President Doug Shields said there should not be "a false sense of urgency" about the pact.

"Competition delayed is competition denied," said Mr. Carnahan.