Rhode Island – Verizon’s company lawyers are contesting a state department ruling that makes 700 unionized employees eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. The state has ruled that these employees are locked out of work and therefore eligible for unemployment, while Verizon maintains that the striking employees can return to work at any time. Meanwhile, over 37,000 Verizon employees on the East Coast remain out of work. Click here for the full story: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160518/verizon-challenges-striking-ri-workers-access-to-jobless-benefits