Contact: Shana Stribling 202.224.0309 Rich Chrismer 202.224.4812
Thursday, October 30, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC Senators Kit Bond and Jim Talent today asked the Department of Labor for additional assistance for laid-off airline workers in Missouri.

"Missouri has been hit hard by airline lay-offs. For former TWA and American workers in Missouri this federal assistance is crucial," said U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO), a member of the Senate Committee that has jurisdiction over labor issues. "Additional dollars will help the hard working folks in St. Louis and Kansas City get some much needed relief and will help Missouri's economy recover."

"I've talked personally with former-TWA and American pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and other employees who are being laid-off or concerned about being laid-off," said U.S. Senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.). "As the Senate works to enact a pro-jobs, pro-growth agenda for Missouri we need to provide additional relief for workers, especially former-TWA workers who in many cases have provided dozens of years of service to the airline industry and our state. This assistance is critical for these workers and for Missouri's economic recovery."

Bond and Talent asked Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, for additional federal assistance for the pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and other employees that have lost their jobs as a result of the American Airlines' restructuring plans following its acquisition of Trans World Airlines' in 2001.

Missourians have borne the brunt of this restructuring, with more than 10,000 St. Louis based TWA/American employees who have lost their jobs. In addition to the St. Louis job losses, Kansas City workers have also been hit hard. Together, these losses have had a tremendous negative impact on Missouri's economic recovery.

The Senators are looking to the Department of Labor to support Missouri's National Emergency Grant (NEG) application. The NEG program would provide crucial funds for job search assistance, job development, job placement, basic skills training, and counseling.