Washington, D.C. – Amidst
continued job losses for New York workers, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
today helped secure real relief for laid-off workers at Goodyear Dunlop Tires in
Tonawanda by fighting to make them eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance
(TAA) – a federal program that provides aid to workers who lose their jobs or
whose wages are reduced as a result of increased imports.
“This is great news for the workers and families of Western New York who have
been hit hardest in these tough economic times,” Senator Gillibrand said. “TAA
will help bring real relief and help get these workers and families back on
track. I will continue working to make sure New York gets its fair share from
the federal government to rebuild our economy.”
TAA is a federal program that provides aid to
workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a
result of increased imports or outsourcing. The program extends benefits
including training for employment in another job or career, income support, job
search allowance, and relocation allowances. Qualified workers may quickly
return to employment through a combination of these services.
Earlier this year, the International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that the
surge in tires imported from China has been directly hurting the economy of
Western New York by taking away business and jobs from Goodyear Dunlop Tires in
Tonawanda – underscoring the critical need for TAA funding for these workers.
Last month, Senator Gillibrand joined 14 of her Senate colleagues to call on
Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to expedite relief for New York’s
distressed workers and make sure that additional TAA funding that was included in
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act gets to the workers who need
it most, and isn’t help up in government bureaucracy.