Gillibrand, Schumer, Cuomo Secure Dept. Of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance for Alcoa Workers Who Lost Their Jobs as a Result of Unfair Trade

Press Release

U.S. Senators Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer and Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has approved a much-needed Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) certification for laid-off workers at Alcoa in Massena. The approval of the TAA certification means former employees can now apply for critical TAA benefits.

Last fall, Alcoa announced that it would be shutting down its Massena smelter and laying off more than 480 workers. This decision was changed in an agreement reached in November 2015 between New York State and Alcoa where the company will continue operating in Massena for the next three years, keeping at least 600 people employed at the plant and reducing the number of layoffs to between 80 and 100. The secured TAA benefits are available to workers impacted by this most recent layoff as well as any Alcoa layoffs going back to December 15, 2014.

"I fought to get this federal assistance for Alcoa workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own and now deserve every opportunity to get the retraining and the support they need to find their next job and continue providing for their families," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "This Federal Trade Adjustment Assistance will provide Alcoa workers with new training and help them acquire the right skills to find new jobs. These workers should have never been faced with this problem in the first place and I'll continue fighting to make sure they have every available resource to find new jobs and succeed."

"This is some much-needed good news for the Alcoa workers and their families who just lost their jobs through no fault of their own," said Schumer. "The agreement Governor Cuomo and I forged with Alcoa was a major victory for the North Country that saved hundreds of jobs, but it's just as important that we help take care of the smaller number of Alcoa workers who were laid off. This designation means they'll receive the assistance and training they need to find another job and quickly get back on their feet.

"Our administration remains committed to protecting and supporting the hard working New Yorkers who could potentially be impacted by Alcoa's actions. This announcement ensures that those workers will have the very best training and services available to help them get back on their feet and I want to thank our Senators and the federal Labor Department for helping us address this issue," said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.

After intervention from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Governor Cuomo for the TAA, it's now estimated that 205 workers are now eligible for this added assistance on top of their unemployment benefits by the Department of Labor.

TAA is a federal program established under the Trade Act of 1974 for workers whose employment is adversely affected by increased imports and shifts in production outside the U.S. This program provides a range of benefits and reemployment services, such as:

Training for employment in another job or career. Workers are eligible for training in occupational skills, basic or remedial education, or training in literacy or English as a second language. Workers may also receive employment services such as case management, skills assessment, and job search assistance.

Income Support. Workers can receive weekly cash payments called trade readjustment allowances (TRA) 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.

Job Search Allowance. Workers can get reimbursed for expenses incurred in seeking employment outside their normal commuting area.

Relocation Allowances. Workers can receive reimbursement for approved expenses if they are successful in obtaining employment outside their normal commuting area and they need to relocate

Source