Certain former employees of the Post-Tribune customer service division in Merrillville are eligible to receive federal assistance after their jobs were moved overseas, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) said today.

That assistance will be provided by the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which is made available to workers who are displaced due to foreign imports or shifts of production out of the country.

On July 17, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) ruled that customer service workers at the Post-Tribune who were totally or partially separated from employment on or after May 19, 2008--through two years from the date of certification--are eligible for TAA assistance, the DWD said.

The DWD did not say where overseas the workers’ jobs went.

“The TAA program provides benefits to help unemployed workers prepare for and obtain suitable employment,” the DWD said. “They may be eligible for a variety of re-employment services, job search and relocation allowances, and training. In addition, weekly trade re-adjustment allowances may be payable to eligible workers following the exhaustion of employment insurance benefits.”

In addition, the DWD said, DOL issued a certification for Re-employment Trade Adjustment Assistance for separated old workers at the Post-Tribune’s customer service division in Merrillville. “It was found that a significant number of workers at the company aged 50 and over possess skills that are not easily transferable and that competitive conditions within the industry are adverse. Older workers may choose between regular TAA benefits or a wage subsidy of 50 percent of the difference between their new salary and old salary, up to $12,000.”

Eligible workers may obtain information at their local WorkOne center, the DWD said. Visit www.in.gov/dwd/WorkOne/regions.html

Posted 8/5/2009