Chris Carola is reporting for the Associated Press Verizon has announced it will close call centers in five states, including New York. The impending loss of jobs prompted Governor Andrew Cuomo's office to label the move as “corporate abuse.” The company said Thu., Oct. 13, a consolidation of its call centers will impact about 3,200 workers near Rochester and New York City, as well as in Maine, Nebraska, Connecticut and California. Verizon employs 162,000 people nationwide. A Verizon Communications Inc. spokesperson said workers were notified Wednesday. All are being offered jobs at other company sites or severance packages if they decide not to relocate, she said. Rich Azzopardi, a Cuomo spokesman, called Verizon’s move “an egregious example of corporate abuse. Verizon’s negligence is astounding and as a result, hard-working New Yorkers will lose their jobs,” he said. Earlier this week the company announced job cuts in its national retail stores as it deals with increasing competition in the wireless industry. Read the full Associated Press story in the Daily Freeman.