Weirton Steel & ISU Seek Continuation of Benefits
03/11/2004 -
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Weirton Steel &
ISU Seek
Continuation of Benefits
March 11, 2004 — Weirton Steel Corp. and the Independent Steelworkers Union (ISU) filed a joint petition earlier this week seeking continued training and extended unemployment benefits for employees who are indefinitely laid off.
The petition was filed with the West Virginia Trade Adjustment (TAA) coordinator in Charleston, W.Va., and with the U.S. Labor Department. TAA, a federal program, is administered by individual states. It provides funding for retraining workers who were displaced by imports.
"The petitions we filed provide detailed information on how steel imports have negatively impacted the company and how they adversely affected employment levels. To continue TAA participation, we must demonstrate to state and federal TAA officials that steel imports impacted our staffing levels in 2003 through early 2004," said Virgil Thompson, Weirton Steel attorney and manager of economic development.
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Typically, unemployment benefits last 26 weeks. However, if a person is receiving TAA training, those benefits can be extended up to 52 weeks while the individual is being retrained at an educational facility.
"Weirton Steel first received certification of the TAA petition in April 2002. However, that petition is scheduled to expire April 23, 2004. If the petition filed Monday is approved, TAA will continue for approximately two additional years subsequent to the certification date," noted ISU Executive Committeeman Bob Hoover.
Each Tuesday, for the past several months, laid-off employees have the opportunity to attend a meeting at the company’s headquarters. The company and ISU sponsored sessions provide beneficial information to help individuals while they are on unemployment.
"There are a number of officials from government agencies and local educational facilities who discuss various opportunities. In addition, those attending can sign-up for unemployment on site. Being without a job can be frightening. The ISU and Weirton Steel are working hard to help ease the burden through TAA and our weekly meetings," noted Burskey.
