Hundreds of newly unionized technicians who work for contractors providing services to telecommunications giant Rogers Communications Inc. could be in a position to strike as early as this week, a move that would see them join ranks with hundreds more already on the picket line.

About 220 workers responsible for the installation and or repair of residential cable, Internet and phone services for Rogers have made a collective bargaining offer to Wirecomm Systems Inc., one of a handful of local contract companies to which Rogers outsources services across the Greater Toronto Area.

Aninitialagreement reached in June averted a threatened strike, but was rejected by 98% of members casting a ballot on July 5, sending the parties back to the table.

If the Mississauga, Ont.based company does not accept the new union offer, which includes pay hikes and minimum compensation guarantees, technicians will consider issuing a strike notice, said Marvin Pupeza, national representative for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.