Vermont Business Magazine The USDOL Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance in Washington, DC, issued a determination on April 20, 2016, approving the Vermont Department of Labor’s (VDOL) request for Trade Certification for the laid-off workers of NTT Data, Inc, in Montpelier, Vermont. The number of laid off workers was not immediately available to VBM. NTT does IT work for National Life Group on a contract basis. NTT acquired Keane Inc in 2011, which had been doing IT work for National Life. Subsequently, NTT, an international company based in Japan, laid of some workers in Montpelier, where National Life is headquartered.
The Trade Certification refers to jobs lost to foreign trade or to jobs moved offshore. The certification has authorized all workers of NTT Data Inc in Montpelier 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:
- NTT Data workers who were laid off on or after January 1, 2014; and
- Current workers who are under a threat of layoff, through April 20, 2018
“The Vermont Department of Labor is pleased with the ruling from USDOL Trade Office. This certification provides substantial resources for trade-adjusted 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 NTT Data 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.
A Trade Adjustment Assistance Informational Meeting will be held by the Vermont Department of Labor on:
May 26, 2016 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
VDOL Career Resource Center
McFarland State Office Building
5 Perry Street, Suite 200
Barre, Vermont
Parking is available on-site
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.
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
According to the USDOL: “The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program is a federal program that provides a path for employment growth and opportunity through aid to US workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade. The TAA program seeks to provide these trade-affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, resources, and support they need to become reemployed.”