CWA Applauds Push to Continue Trade Adjustment Assistance Benefits

Washington, DC – Legislation introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Reps. Adam Smith (D-Washington) and Sander Levin (D-Mich.) makes certain that workers who lose their jobs due to U.S. trade policies don't lose the critical support provided by the Trade Adjustment Assistance program.  

The current TAA program is set to expire this year. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2015 (S. 568 and H.R. 1088) reauthorizes the program through 2020. It also ensures that service sector and public sector workers, as well as those in manufacturing, will continue to have TAA coverage if they lose their jobs as a result of any unfair trade policies and the offshoring of U.S. jobs. TAA benefits help workers obtain job training, unemployment benefits, health care assistance and other support.

“Congress should quickly pass this legislation and extend Trade Adjustment Assistance, a program that’s critical to the survival of U.S. workers and their families who are hit hard by offshoring and the impact of U.S. trade deals with China and other countries. U.S. working families shouldn’t bear the cost of trade policies that are written by and for multinational corporations,” said CWA Legislative Director Shane Larson.

“We commend Senator Brown and Representatives Smith and Levin for their commitment to helping displaced workers and their determination to get this done,” he said. 

In July 2012, the U.S. Dept. of Labor certified that T-Mobile US workers were entitled to TAA benefits following the company’s shutdown of seven call centers affecting 3,300 workers.