FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 30, 2015

 

FORMER ALORICA, Tulsa OK EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT EXTENSION  

 

Special Status Granted to Laid-off Company Employees by U.S. Department of Labor

 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Displaced workers of Alorica, Tulsa, OK have been ruled eligible for the Trade Act program by the USDOL. Established by the Trade Act of 1974 (19USC 2273), Trade Act benefits provide assistance to those who lose jobs or significant work hours because of increased imports or a shift in production out of the country. The Trade Readjustment Assistance (TRA) program provides additional unemployment compensation to individuals who are in full time Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) occupational training. The goal is to help laid-off workers return to suitable employment as quickly as possible.

 

In order to seek certification as a Trade-Impacted Company, workers must meet three criteria:

1) Workers must be laid off or threatened with layoff;

2) Sales or production for the employer must have decreased; and

3) An increase in imports of products like or directly competitive with products made by the firm must contribute to layoffs or the threat of layoffs.

 

Applicants who qualify for TAA and TRA have a limited amount of time after certification or qualifying separation from adversely affected employment to apply for benefits. The state may also grant a waiver of training enrollment to suspend this qualification for some individuals.

 

The USDOL report concludes “all workers of Alorica including workers whose wages were reported thru West Corp Tulsa, OK who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after February 21, 2015, through two years from the date of certification (12/22/15) are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance…” Separated employees who want to apply for Trade Act benefits should contact their nearest Workforce Oklahoma Center at 1-888-980-WORK (9675).

 

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