Verizon is closing call centers in five states, including in Connecticut, and 550 employees will be affected.
Verizon announced Wednesday that it will close its Wallingford and Meriden customer service call centers on March 24, 2017.
Verizon is also closing call centers in its home state of New York and said a consolidation of its call centers will impact about 3,200 workers in Wallingford and Meriden, as well as near Rochester and New York City in New York; Bangor, Maine; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Rancho Cordova, California.
“This was a very difficult but necessary business decision. We value our Customer Service employees. They are highly trained, highly skilled and experienced and they will be encouraged to stay with the company,” Verizon said in a statement.
In Wallingford, about 490 customer service employees are affected and about 60 customer service employees at affected in Meriden.
A Verizon spokesperson said about 150 employees in sales and other divisions will remain in Wallingford.
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro called the announcement disappointing and is asking Verizon to do everything possible to help the affected workers.
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"My office has reached out to the Connecticut Department of Labor to ask them to brief workers about the benefits and services available, and my office is ready to assist employees during this difficult time,” she said in a statement.
The Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce, which covers Wallingford, will assist Verizon workers hoping to stay in the area.
In 2014, 370 employees were told they’d have to relocate when the company announced plans to consolidate facilities in Meriden and Rocky Hill.
A spokeswoman for Verizon Communications Inc. said Thursday that all the workers are being offered jobs at 16 other company sites.
The company said they will relocate employees to other call centers and offer relocation assistance and employees who wish to visit another call center to explore the area and new work environment will be offered assistance to defray travel costs.
