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JANESVILLE, WI – First District Congressman Paul Ryan today announced that he has been notified by the U.S. Department of Labor that NAFTA-Transitional Adjustment Assistance (NAFTA-TAA) certification has been approved for workers who recently lost their jobs at Acme Die Casting of Racine.

"This is welcome news for Acme workers and their families, because it means they can apply for a range of benefits – from additional training to job search allowances – that will help them reenter the workforce," Ryan said. "These are hardworking people who have more than earned this federal assistance."

The NAFTA-TAA program is a federal program that assists workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of trade with Canada or Mexico. A petition for NAFTA-TAA may be filed by a group of three or more workers, their employer, union or community-based organization. Possible benefits available through the NAFTA-TAA program include new career training, income support, and job search and relocation allowances. The U.S. Department of Labor must issue its Certification Regarding Eligibility before trade-affected workers may apply individually for benefits under this program.

The Department of Labor's recently-issued Certification Regarding Eligibility to apply for NAFTA-TAA for Acme Die Casting workers applies to workers at Acme Die Casting in Racine who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after March 9, 2000, through two years from the date of certification. Acme workers who are interested in applying for NAFTA-TAA benefits, should contact their county job center. (See contact information listed below.)

In addition, when the Department of Labor issued its Certification Regarding Eligibility for Acme Die Casting, it wasn't the first time this spring that trade-related federal assistance was granted for employees of a Racine-area company. In March of this year, the Department of Labor certified Artech employees as eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits (including training, income support, and job search and relocation allowances.) According to the Department of Labor, "All workers of Artech Printing Inc., Sturtevant, Wisconsin, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after February 9, 2000, through two years from the date of certification are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974."

The Trade Adjustment Assistance program is a federal program that provides aid to workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports. In a February letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Ryan expressed his strong support for efforts to obtain trade adjustment assistance for dislocated Artech workers.

Artech workers who would like to apply for TAA benefits should also contact their county job center (see contact information listed below.)
 

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