Assistance sought for displaced Verso workers
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin have sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez seeking quick approval of a petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance for the 300 workers at Verso Paper Corp. in Jay who are expected to lose their jobs due largely to foreign competition.
“Given the rural location of the Jay mill and the closures in recent years of other paper mills in the region, the laid-off workers face an enormous hurdle in identifying and securing alternative employment,” they wrote in a joint letter sent Wednesday. “Many may require retraining for other emerging occupations, making it crucial that these workers receive certification under the TAA program.”
In their letter to Perez, the three members of Maine’s congressional delegation cite “shrinking demand attributable to foreign competition” as forcing Verso “to scale back its annual production of coated paper and, consequently, its workforce.”
“We urge that you review this [TAA] application in a timely manner, consistent with all rules and regulations, to ensure that the workers receive the assistance they need to obtain work and maintain their financial stability,” Collins, King and Poliquin wrote in their letter.
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