City announces workshop to help U.S. Repeating Arms workers

(4/4/2006) Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. today announced that the City of New Haven, in collaboration with the state Department of Labor, the Regional Workforce Development Board and the International Association of Machinists Local 609, will hold a workshop on Thursday to help displaced U.S. Repeating Arms workers.

The workers lost their jobs when U.S. Repeating Arms closed down last week.

The Mayor said the Thursday session, which takes place at 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Lincoln Bassett School, 130 Basset St. "is a way for the City and the state to help workers fill out necessary forms, understand what

benefits are available to help them during the period of unemployment and assist in searching for a new job."

Thursday's workshop is especially important because the workers qualify for the Trade Assistance Adjustment Act. The state Department of Labor will explain in detail how to get started in accessing those benefits, which

extend longer than the typical unemployment period. The Mayor thanked Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman for helping to expedite the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance

Act, which provides aid to workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports.

All employees, both managerial and hourly, are invited to the free session. Officials from the State Department of Labor and the Regional Workforce Development Board will speak. For more information, call A. Walter Esdaile

(203) 946-7668.