03.20.02

Cantwell: Dislocated Kaiser Workers to Receive Federal Assistance

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today announced that over 1,900 dislocated Kaiser aluminum workers are now eligible for federally funded training assistance, income support, and a job search allowance. These benefits will be available to workers who lost their jobs due to increased aluminum imports as the result of the U.S. Department of Labor's certification of Kaiser aluminum workers' petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) under the Trade Act, listed today on DOL's web site.

"I am thrilled this TAA petition has been approved," Cantwell said. "It will mean dollars for training and education for a very talented work force. This announcement gives people more certainty about their future."

The United Steel Workers of America, with the support and assistance of Cantwell, submitted the TAA petition to the Department of Labor late last year. This announcement will affect approximately 1,600 dislocated workers in Spokane and 350 in Tacoma.

"Senator Cantwell was extremely responsive to USWA as we filed our TAA petition," Steve Powers of the USWA said. "She and her staff worked closely with us and Department of Labor. Her work was instrumental for us being TAA certified for these benefits which are so important to the hard working families of Spokane and Tacoma."

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 reemployment services to assist unemployed workers prepare for and obtain suitable employment. Workers may be eligible for training, job search and relocation allowances, income support and other reemployment services.

Eligible Kaiser employees 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.