PITTSFIELD “ Today, U.S. Representative John W. Olver and Senator Edward M. Kennedy announced the U.S. Department of Labor°s approval of a modification plan to include Husky workers at the General Dynamics/Beloit Corporation Career Resource Center located on Merrill Road in Pittsfield.

The Career Resource Center was originally funded with Department of Labor, National Reserve Funding in 1997 in the amount of $2.7 million.  Since that time, the grant was modified in October of 1998 to include the workers at Beloit Corporation.   Funds for the Center are administered by the Corporation for Business, Work and Learning, representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

œI am extremely pleased that the Secretary of Labor has once again modified this grant to include the workers at Husky.  The Husky Community Response Team had quickly anticipated that several Husky workers would be in need of similar readjustment services to assist them at becoming successfully re-employed.  Given the close proximity of the Center to the impacted location, this modification provides a timely opportunity to serve the Husky workers without requesting additional funding,” Olver said.

œIn Berkshire County we have been plagued with continuous downsizing in our traditional manufacturing base,” Olver said. œIt has been my pleasure to work alongside Senator Kennedy to address the immediate needs of those dislocated workers throughout the county. Being able to access these federal resources quickly and efficiently will provide more intensive and targeted retraining, support and re-employment services to many workers.”

Senator Kennedy said, œI°m delighted with the Department of Labor°s timely response in meeting the urgent needs of the Husky workers. These workers deserve this help, and I commend John Olver for his leadership in making this action possible.”

On September 1st of this year the Department of Labor also approved Trade Adjustment Assistance for the entire workforce at Husky.  TAA is provided to the employees who have lost their jobs, or seen their hours greatly reduced, due to competition from imported goods.  Employees have been working closely with counselors to file the necessary training petitions in order to access special benefits under TAA, including additional income support and training