For Release: Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

COSTELLO ANNOUNCES BENEFITS FOR AMSTED RAIL COMPANY WORKERS

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) has received confirmation from the U. S. Department of Labor that the workers at Amsted Rail Company, Inc. in Granite City will be eligible for worker adjustment assistance. The workers are engaged in employment related to the production of component parts for the rail car industry.

The decision reads, “All workers of Amsted Rail Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Amsted, including on-site leased workers from Kelly Services and Account Temps, Granite City, Illinois, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after April 14, 2009, through two years from the date of certification, and all workers in the group threatened with total or partial separation from employment on the date of certification through two years from the date of certification, are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance….”

“Trade adjustment assistance allows displaced workers to receive additional unemployment benefits, job training, relocation expense reimbursement and other services,” said Costello. “I will continue to work to change the trade laws that result in jobs leaving this country, and I will work to maintain funding for this assistance in the federal budget.”

Those who wish to apply for worker adjustment assistance may do so through one of the local “One-Stop Career Centers” run by the state of Illinois; the three one-stop centers located in Madison County are listed below. A full list of centers can be accessed at http://www.servicelocator.org/onestopcenters.asp.

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