US Department of Labor certifies approximately 8,500 workers in 13 states as eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 8,500 workers from companies in 13 states – California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

"Trade Adjustment Assistance will allow these workers to access the employment and training services they need to prepare for good jobs in promising industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Helping workers who are impacted by trade secure permanent jobs is one way that we can ensure our nation's economic recovery becomes steady economic growth."

Workers covered by these latest TAA certifications will be contacted by their respective states with instructions on how to apply for individual benefits and services. Those who apply may receive case management and re-employment services, training in new occupational skills and trade readjustment allowances that provide income support for workers enrolled in training. Some workers may also receive job search and relocation allowances, and the Health Coverage Tax Credit.

"Auto workers across the country have been hit hard by the recent economic downturn. While the auto sector has added 51,000 jobs since June of last year, there is still a lot of work to be done getting people back to work. Trade Adjustment Assistance is one part of this administration's comprehensive effort to support workers and families in auto communities nationwide by providing opportunities to retrain for jobs in new growth industries, continued access to health care and other assistance finding jobs," said Dr. Ed Montgomery, executive director of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers.

While TAA is open to eligible workers of all ages, workers 50 years of age and older may elect to receive Re-employment Trade Adjustment Assistance instead. If a worker obtains new employment at wages less than $55,000 and less than those earned in adversely affected employment, the RTAA program will pay 50 percent of the difference between the old wage and the new wage, up to $12,000 over a two-year period. RTAA participants may also be eligible for retraining and the HCTC.

For more information on TAA and the range of Department of Labor employment and training services, visit http://www.doleta.gov.

Editor's Note: A chart reflecting companies covered by these certifications follows this news release.

TAA Certifications