| For immediate release July 21, 2009 |
Contact: Erin Donar
202-225-3611
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| Kildee Announces More than 900 Saginaw Delphi Workers Now Eligible to Receive Help for Trade-Related Job Losses |
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| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor has certified more than 900 workers from Delphi Steering in Saginaw as eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). This program provides aid to workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports. Congressman Kildee has consistently called for increased TAA funding and has urged the Administration to do more to help Delphi employees and retirees. “This will be very helpful for workers in Saginaw, too many of whom have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, but due to unfair trade policies that are stacked against our manufacturing communities. These workers are now eligible for retraining, help with finding a new job, and other support services to help them transition to new employment,” said Congressman Kildee. “While I am pleased with today’s decision for Delphi workers, this does not deal with the root of the problem – America’s flawed trade policies. As always, I will continue to fight every day for fair trade policies that support manufacturing in our country and benefit our working families.” Workers covered by this certification will be contacted by the state with instructions on how to apply for individual benefits and services. Those who do 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. Workers 50 years of age and older may elect to receive Re-employment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA), which was created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 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 Health Coverage Tax Credit. For more information on Trade Adjustment Assistance and the range of Department of Labor employment and training services, visit http://www.doleta.gov. |
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