03.19.03

Cantwell Announces Federal Assistance for Goldendale Aluminum Workers

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that 93 workers who will be laid off from Goldendale Aluminum Company in Goldendale, Washington will be eligible for federally funded job training assistance, income support, and a job search allowance. These benefits are the result of the U.S. Department of Labor's certification of Goldendale Aluminum workers' petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) under the Trade Act of 1974. Cantwell helped secure approval of Goldendale’s TAA petition.

"I am pleased that Goldendale Aluminum workers are getting this much-needed assistance," Cantwell said. "TAA provides important support for training and education for a very talented workforce. This announcement gives these workers and their families more certainty about their futures."

Goldendale Aluminum Company is a pillar of the Klickitat County community and is the largest employer in the county with an annual payroll of approximately $46 million. 140 people continue to work at Goldendale, if any of them are laid off in the next two years they will also be covered by the TAA determination.

Goldendale workers produce aluminum ingots and billets. The plant has had to scale back production and lay off workers because of increased of imports of aluminum ingots and billets and increased energy prices.

Workers at Northwest Aluminum in Dalles, Oregon will also be eligible for TAA. A previous TAA determination for Goldendale Aluminum and Northwest Aluminum workers expired on January 8, 2003.

Cantwell, a member of the Commerce Committee, remains committed to improving the state’s economy in focusing on jobs, growth, and economic opportunity for every corner of Washington state.

TAA was established under the Trade Act of 1974. The TAA program provides aid to workers who lost their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports. The program offers a variety of benefits and services to assist unemployed workers to prepare for and obtain suitable employment. Workers may be eligible for training, job search and relocation allowances, income support and other reemployment services. Cantwell has been a leader in the Senate for advocating TAA training and Workforce Investment Act training programs.

Eligible laid off Goldendale Aluminum workers will be entitled to:

Training: workers may receive up to 104 weeks of approved training in occupational skills, basic or remedial education, or literacy training.

Income Support: Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) are weekly cash payments available for 52 weeks after a worker's unemployment compensation is exhausted.

Job Search Allowance: reimburses workers for approved expenses if successful in obtaining employment outside the normal commuting area.