LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (July 9, 2009)--Verizon Wireless has laid off 50 workers in Arkansas who were part of the former Alltel Corp., which Verizon acquired in January.

Verizon spokesman Scott Morris said the cut made up the bulk of 80 people who were laid off across the company Thursday.

The Arkansas layoffs came as part of the process that Verizon is going through to identify redundant positions among its corporate staff.

Morris said the layoffs were in human resources, finance, security and other areas.

Morris said Verizon has about 3,200 Arkansas employees including former Alltel workers and Arkansas employees of Verizon prior to the acquisition.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. of New York and Vodafone Group PLC of Britain.