OKLAHOMA
CITY, OK – The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission announced today that
displaced workers from the Pryor facility of Grede Foundries, Inc. are eligible
to receive financial help. The U.S. Department of Labor has ruled that former
employees of the Pryor, OK plant meet requirements to receive trade adjustment
assistance according to the Trade Act of 1974 (19 USC 2273) as amended by the
Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-418). Under Section 223
of the legislation, workers qualify for adjustment assistance if three criteria
are met: 1) workers must be laid off or threatened with layoff; 2) sales or
production must have decreased; and 3) increases in imports of products like or
directly competitive with products made by the firm must contribute to layoffs
or the threat of layoffs. Trade adjustment assistance is available to
individuals who become unemployed as a result of increased imports or a shift in
production. The goal is to help laid off workers return to suitable employment
as quickly as possible.
The
report concludes that “all workers of Grede Foundries, Inc., Grede-Pryor
Foundry, Pryor, Oklahoma engaged in employment related to the production of
ductile castings, who became totally or partially separated from employment on
or after January 26, 2001, through two years from the date of certification, are
eligible to apply for adjustment assistance…” The first day of eligibility
for the assistance is March 30, 2002. Separated employees
who would like to take advantage of this assistance should contact their nearest
Workforce Oklahoma Local Office at 1-888-840-WORK (9675).
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