OKLAHOMA
CITY, OK – The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission announced today that
displaced workers from the Wilburton facility of Unifirst Corporation are
eligible to receive financial help. The U.S. Department of Labor has ruled that
former employees of the Wilburton, OK business 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 Unifirst Corporation, Wilburton,
Oklahoma, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after
June 18, 2000 through two years from the date of certification, are eligible to
apply for adjustment assistance…” The first day of eligibility for the
assistance is August 18, 2001. 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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