Verizon Hawaii officials have approved an employee union request to double the size of the voluntary separation package it has offered. Verizon Hawaii, union
agree on separationThe telecom company agrees to double
the severance payout for 26 employeesBy Erika Engle
eengle@starbulletin.comThe maximum payout for 30 years' service would be $69,750, according to Ann Nishida, Verizon Hawaii media relations manager.
Verizon on Tuesday notified the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1357 it needed to cut 26 positions, citing decreased demand for wireline services. It offered a voluntary separation incentive package in accordance with the union contract. The contract also contained language providing for a doubling of the incentive, which the union requested.
"This certainly helps and makes a bad situation easier," said Harold Dias, union business manager.
Employees affected include 16 in network services, eight in national operations-Verizon Repair Resolution Center and two in the enterprise solutions group.
Employees have until Oct. 30 to accept the package. During the week, the company said if 26 employees did not voluntarily accept the package, layoffs would occur as a last resort sometime after Nov. 16.
Yesterday's announcement that the company would increase the incentive package is likely to draw interest from more than 26 employees who are eligible for retirement, according to Dias.
Acceptance of voluntary separation packages will be based on seniority per job classification per island, Nishida said.
"If we get more than 26 takers on the voluntary sep package, we'll take a look at each area to determine if we can actually offer more than we had planned without impacting service," Nishida said.