Verizon laying off ex-Alltel workers

Associated Press - November 19, 2009 11:14 AM ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Verizon Wireless is laying off former Alltel Corp. headquarters workers in Little Rock.

Verizon would not put a number to the Thursday layoffs. Spokeswoman Lucie Pathmann said the company is cutting positions that became redundant with its 2008 purchase of Alltel.

Area business leaders bemoaned the takeover because the city would lose many high-paying professional positions. Pathmann said layoffs were in areas such as finance, marketing and legal.

Pathmann said laid off workers can apply for call center jobs and other positions available in Little Rock, where she says Verizon is expanding parts of its operation.