Special assistance approved for laid-off Simplot workers
More than 1,000 laid-off workers at Simplot Corp. potato processing operations in Nampa, Caldwell, Aberdeen and Heyburn are now eligible for special assistance in finding new jobs, under a union petition approved by the federal government under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. The benefits, similar to those recently announced for laid-off Micron Technology workers, are for those laid off from Aug. 14, 2012 through late 2015, the Idaho Department of Labor announced today.
The union petition, from the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, came after the company announced it would close facilities in those cities in favor of a new, higher-tech plant in Canyon County that will need only a quarter of the workers and will open next spring. The assistance includes no-cost retraining, job-search and relocation aid and more; click below for the full announcement.
NEWS RELEASE
Idaho Department of Labor
For Immediate Release: Dec. 18, 2013
Special Assistance Approved for Laid-Off Simplot Workers
Over 1,000 workers at the J.R. Simplot potato processing plants in Nampa, Caldwell and Aberdeen and a warehouse in Heyburn are eligible for job search support under a union petition approved by the federal government.
Services under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program will be available to workers laid off since Aug. 14, 2012 through late 2015.
The petition filed by the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union was prompted by Simplot’s decision to close its facilities in Heyburn, Nampa, Caldwell and Aberdeen in favor of a new Canyon County plant with technology that will allow it to better compete in a global market. Only a quarter of the manpower will be needed to run the new plant, which opens next spring.
In addition to the job search services offered to any job seeker by the Idaho Department of Labor, the Trade Adjustment Assistance program provides eligible workers with no-cost retraining, expenses related to looking for new jobs, relocation expenses and additional financial allowances after regular state unemployment benefits are exhausted.
Learn more at http://labor.idaho.gov/dnn/
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