TAA Benefits Expiring for Employees Laid Off in 2007

     I got this information on 12/30/09 that some of our Brothers and Sisters are not going to school in the Spring. It seems that their two-year period for TAA benefits has expired. They were told that a petition was sent to Raleigh for continued benefits, but they had to resume work search and would be notified as soon as possible to the result. Tuition to Gaston has to be paid by the 6th of Jan. The college gave WIA and TAA an extension for payment.

     These are the Brothers & Sisters that were laid off in '07 and some of them are 1 semester from their degree. Talking with our members, it's a real pain to deal with WIA and TAA, last minute runarounds and misinformation are common practices dealing with these state services that seem to bounce people back and forth between them rather than working together to help get them what they need to better themselves as the programs are intended. Funding seems to be the biggest struggle for these 2 programs that cause the most problems between them, and for the unemployed people trying to go back to school.

Greg Suggs     

LUPA Chairman  

UAW Local 5286