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TORONTO (CP)--Ontario Hydro will soon notify about 950 unionized employees that their positions are to be declared surplus. Hydro spokesman Al Manchee said Tuesday the Crown corporation has not decided the exact number of notices that will be sent to members of the Power Workers' Union this month. About 500 of the 950 notices will be sent for positions that were declared surplus in the mid-1990s, but these surplus letters were withdrawn while Hydro negotiated a new contract with the 15,000-member union in late 1996. Hydro hopes that the layoffs, which cover a range of positions, can be achieved through a buyout. Employees will get three weeks of severance pay for every year worked, up to a maximum of 78 weeks, and five months notice of layoff. notice of layoff.