FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2003
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FORMER
GULFSTREAM EMPLOYEES |
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Expired
Benefits Returned to Oklahoma Employees Under Trade Act of 1974 OKLAHOMA
CITY, OK – The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission announced today
that displaced workers from the Bethany facility of Gulfstream Aerospace
Technologies are eligible to receive financial help. The U.S. Department
of Labor has ruled that former employees of the Bethany, 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 at Gulfstream Aerospace
Technologies, Bethany, Oklahoma who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after September 6, 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 November 9, 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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