VerizonCommunications Inc. tapped thousands of additional personnel tohelp with the company's operations amid an ongoing by Verizon employees.

The employees on special assignment and contractors arecurrently enrolled or have recently graduated from the company's technicaltraining classes in Virginia, the company said April 29. The employees aretaking over roles in the field and the company's customer service centers.

The news comes as the unions representing the strikingemployees have rejected Verizon's "last, best and finaloffer," which included a wage increase of 7.5% over the term of thecontract, among other benefits.