Letter to the Honorable Portia Wu, Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training of the Dept. of Labor - Receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance from U.S. Department of Labor

Letter

Dear Assistant Secretary Wu:

We write to request timely consideration of Olympic Panel Products' petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

Olympic Panel Products (OPP), located in Shelton, Washington, employs approximately 250 workers in and around communities which we represent, producing concrete forms, signage, and plywood. On May 22nd, a WARN notice was issued by OPP to announce that the OPP plant was closing, threatening all positions at the facility. Layoffs commenced in late July and continued to completion in August.

As documented in OPP's petition, dated May 24, 2016, competition from cheaper imports directly competitive with the products manufactured at its facility in Shelton were key factors in the decision to shutter the facility. OPP workers impacted by previous rounds of job cuts were certified to receive assistance under TAA in 2009 and 2012. Workers at the Simpson Sawmill, previously co-located with OPP, are currently certified to receive TAA assistance.

The recently-separated workers at OPP are facing a prolonged period of uncertainty. We ask for prompt and fair consideration of their request to allow them to plan and make critical decisions about their future.

Sincerely,

Source