WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved Transition Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for former employees of International Paper's (IP) lumber mill in Franklin. The mill, which employed about 120 people, closed early this summer because of a decline in product demand due to increased foreign imports. According to company officials, the mill produced pine lumber board and was not directly involved in the operations of IP's Franklin paper mill.

The TAA program helps workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade. The TAA program offers a variety of benefits and services to eligible workers, including job retraining, income support while enrolled full-time in a training program, job search and relocation allowances, a tax credit to help offset the costs of health insurance, and a wage supplement to certain reemployed, trade-affected workers 50 years of age and older.

"While these job losses are separate from the recent devastating announcement that IP will shutter its Franklin paper mill, we are hopeful that the Labor Department will acknowledge that many of the same market forces link these two events," Senator Warner said. "TAA certification and its critically important job retraining and re-employment services can be a God-send to workers who simply require a temporary 'hand-up' as they transition to new jobs in this tough economy."

“Due to the effects of foreign imports, this federal worker assistance is critical to the livelihood of the workers in Franklin,” said Senator Webb. “Providing Trade Adjustment Assistance will help these workers make the difficult transition to new jobs at a time when Virginia’s manufacturing industry faces hard times.”

“In addition to providing support for laid off workers, we must address the larger issue of U.S. trade policies that are unfair and disproportionally affect American workers,” continued Webb. “These policies are a matter of economic fairness and I am committed to continuing to advance the interests of American workers in the United States Senate.”

Members of Virginia's congressional delegation are working closely with local, regional and state officials, and company and union representatives, to prepare and submit an application to the Labor Department seeking similar TAA certification and benefits for the more than 1,100 employees who will be impacted by International Paper's recent announcement that it will shut-down its Franklin paper mill operations.

The Labor Department's TAA certification document covering former employee of International Paper's lumber mill is below.

More information on benefits provided under the TAA program is available at http://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/benefits.cfm.

Labor Department's TAA certification for Franklin Paper Mill employees

# # #