The U.S. Department of Labor has approved funding for a program that will help displaced employees at Madison Paper Industries acquire new skills and training after the mill closes in May, according to an announcement from U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin.
The federal Trade Adjustment Assistance program provides job training and worker assistance to workers who have been adversely affected by foreign competition.
Last year Madison Paper filed a federal complaint against a Canadian paper mill alleging that unfair government subsidies to Port Hawkesbury Paper were hurting the U.S. market for supercalendered paper, the glossy magazine paper made at the Madison mill. In December the U.S. Department of Commerce ruled in Madison’s favor and ordered that duties of up to 20 percent be placed on imported supercalendered paper.
Collins, King and Poliquin said in a joint statement Tuesday that the foreign competition played a large role in last month’s announcement that the mill will close, laying off 215 employees.
“This announcement is welcome news,” the delegation members said. “TAA plays an essential role in helping Americans across our country who, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs as a result of foreign – and often unfair – competition.”
Mike Croteau, president of the United Steelworkers Local 36, called the news Tuesday “outstanding” and said it has been much anticipated by workers since the AFL-CIO filed a petition requesting the federal assistance last month.
“A lot of our members have been waiting and waiting for this to come through,” Croteau said.
Since the Madison mill announced its May closing, employees have been meeting with state Rapid Response teams and Career Center workers.
Rachel Ohm can be contacted at 612-2368 or at:
rohm@centralmaine.com
Twitter: rachel_ohm
Send questions/comments to the editors.
