CONCORD, NC – Representative Larry Kissell (NC-08) has announced that the Department of Labor has certified a Trade Adjustment Assistance petition for employees of CPS Color Equipment, Inc. in Concord. The petition will cover all tint dispensing machine workers who lost their jobs on or after February 13, 2010, through two years from the date of certification, including on-site leased workers from Pionear and Integra Staffing.

“This important assistance will help these folks with education, retraining and help with finding new jobs,” Kissell said. “While this TAA petition certification will provide a temporary relief to these workers in a time when they need it most, the loss of American manufacturing jobs sheds light on the larger issue that is the immediate need to invest in American-made products. We need to stop the outsourcing of our American jobs and make sure that opportunity remains here at home, moving our economy forward.”

The TAA Program provides aid to workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports or a company shifting production to a foreign country. Workers may be eligible for training, job search and relocation allowances, income support and other reemployment services. Affected CPS Color workers can contact the Cabarrus County Division of Employment Security office at 704-786-3183 for more information.

“Our workers have suffered far too long as a result of the seriously flawed and misguided trade deals that send American jobs overseas,” added Kissell. “I will keep up the fight to bring jobs back to America, where they belong.”

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