FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
May 14, 2008   

McHugh: Gouverneur Talc Company Workers Eligible for Compensation Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative John M. McHugh (R - Pierrepont Manor) announced today that the Department of Labor (DOL) has ruled that workers who have and will lose their jobs at the Gouverneur Talc Company in Gouverneur, New York are eligible to receive additional worker assistance benefits. The federal benefits, provided through DOL’s Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, are available solely to workers who are negatively affected by competition from overseas and include job training, relocation, and job search allowances.

“Words cannot express how thankful I am on behalf of United Steelworkers Local 4979. This assistance will provide critically needed funding and help to our workers who were employed at the Gouverneur Talc Company,” said Steve Weldon, President, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4979.

“This announcement by the Department of Labor is welcome news for the workers who have or will lose their jobs at Gouverneur because of the company’s downsizing. While it is in no way a substitute for the financial and emotional stress a forced job loss causes, I am hopeful that this assistance will provide some of the training and financial support these workers need,” McHugh said. “I am glad I was able to support this application, and will continue to support all workers across Central and Northern New York who are in need of assistance.”

Workers at the Gouverneur Talc Company, a division of R.T. Vanderbilt, produce talc, and the company announced it was significantly downsizing operations in January. Approximately 75 percent of the company’s 106 employees are expected to be laid off. The Department of Labor reviewed the petition requesting TAA filed by USW Local 4979 on behalf of the workers of Gouverneur Talc Company. TAA is available to workers whose livelihood has been affected by import competition, which the Department of Labor found contributed to the downsizing at the Gouverneur Talc Company. 

The Department of Labor will provide benefits to workers who became totally or partially separated from their jobs on or after March 24, 2007. Available benefits include:

Training for employment in another job or career. Types of training include: 1) classroom training; 2) on the-job training; 3) customized training designed to meet the needs of a specific employer or group of employers; and 4) basic or remedial education, which may include training in literacy or English as a second language.
Job search allowances, to cover expenses incurred in seeking employment outside a worker’s normal commuting area.

Income support known as trade readjustment allowances (TRA). These weekly cash payments are available for 52 weeks after a worker’s unemployment compensation benefit is exhausted and during the period in which a worker is participating in an approved full-time training program.

Relocation allowances provide reimbursement for approved relocation expenses for workers who successfully obtain employment outside their normal commuting area.
Reemployment services, such as career counseling, job placement assistance services, supportive services, skills assessment, job development, and job search assistance.

Rapid response assistance and basic readjustment services that provide on-site support by the state’s dislocated worker unit. These may include efforts to let workers know they are eligible to receive an assessment of their individual skills and abilities as well as financial and personal counseling to prepare for job transition.

Health Coverage Tax Credit, which is provided to workers eligible to receive income support under the TAA program and may be eligible to receive tax credits for 65% of the monthly health insurance premium they pay.

Employees can access these benefits at their local Department of Labor One-Stop Career Center. To learn the location nearest you, visit http://www.servicelocator.org/ or 1-877-US2-JOBS.

###

2366 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4611 │ Fax: 202-226-0621 │ 

Visit on the Web at: http://mchugh.house.gov