01.22.04

Cantwell Announces Federal Assistance for Workers at Weyerhaeuser’s Longview Fine Paper

WASHINGTON, D.C . - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that about 140 workers laid off from Weyerhaeuser's Longview Fine Paper are 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 Weyerhaeuser's workers' petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) under the Trade Act of 1974. Cantwell pushed heavily to secure approval of Weyerhaeuser's petition.

"I am pleased that Weyerhaeuser's Longview Fine Paper workers are getting this much-needed assistance," Cantwell said. "These resources will provide training and education for a very talented workforce. This assistance will hopefully give workers and their families more certainty about their futures. I want workers to be able to find jobs locally and thrive in this community."

Weyerhaeuser was incorporated in 1900. The laid-off employees worked in Longview's No. 1 Fine Paper machine. This machine, closed last November, had been in operation for 47 years. The closure came two years after the company closed the Longview No. 2 Fine Paper machine.

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Weyerhaeuser workers was certified by the United States Department of Labor, who cited the loss of jobs as a direct result of decreased sales and production for Weyerhaeuser in 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.

Eligible laid off Weyerhaeuser's Longview Fine Paper 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.

Tax credits valued at up to 65% of health care premiums. 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.