TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

GTE Unit to Lay Off 300: GTE California said it will lay off 300 hourly workers and is offering early retirement and buyout packages to another 5,328 workers. The moves are part of a national cost-cutting program by GTE’s parent company, Stamford, Conn.-based GTE Corp. The parent is offering early retirement or buyouts to about 26,000 management employees across the country, said Dan Smith, a spokesman for the California subsidiary. GTE California employs 16,255 people: 3,712 managers and 12,543 hourly workers.