Vermont Business Magazine The USDOL Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance in Washington, DC, issued a determination on November 15, 2016, approving the Vermont Department of Labor’s (VDOL) request for Trade Certification for the August 2015 laid-off workers from Keurig Green Mountain in Waterbury and South Burlington. Approximately 200 workers were laid off. The certification has authorized all workers of Keurig Green Mountain in Waterbury and South Burlington, who meet the eligibility criteria, to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.
Eligible workers include:
- Keurig Green Mountain August 2015 Laid Off Workers in Waterbury and South Burlington, VT who were laid off on or after January 1, 2014; and
- Current workers who are under a threat of layoff through November 15, 2018
The Trade Adjustment Assistance program offers various benefits and services to support workers deemed “Trade Certified”, to include: Reemployment Services, Job Retraining, Job Search Allowance, Relocation Allowance, Unemployment Insurance Benefits, Trade Readjustment Allowances and Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance Wage Subsidy.
Keurig was bought later in 2015 (December) for $13.9 billion by JAB Holdings, a Luxembourg-based global coffee company that, among other things, owns the Peet's coffee brand. Keurig still employs about 2,000 in Vermont and 6,000 system-wide. It is headquartered in Waterbury, with additional offices and plants in Williston, South Burlington, and Essex.
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Eligible workers need to be aware of the fact that there are time-sensitive deadlines associated with some of the benefits and services available. Trade-affected workers who have questions about eligibility, services and benefits should contact the Vermont Department of Labor at 802-828-4177, or visit the nearest VDOL Regional Career Resource Center. The listing of VDOL’s 12 Regional Offices can be found at www.labor.vermont.gov
“The Vermont Department of Labor is pleased with the ruling from USDOL Trade Office. This certification provides substantial resources for trade-affected dislocated workers who may want to pursue education, training and/or new careers. It can also provide financial assistance during the transition to a new job. The most important message to the employees of Keurig Green Mountain is that there are enrollment deadlines for some of these benefits, and they need to go into the local VDOL Office to meet with our staff to fully understand the benefits and financial supports available to them”, said Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan.
Source: Vermont DOL 12.6.2016