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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-6871
The U.S. Department of Labor is awarding Illinois two
grants totaling $2,868,000 to assist approximately 194 workers who are losing
their jobs at coal mining companies, Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich
announced today. These dislocations are the result of a declining market for
high-sulfur coal due to require- ments of the Clean Air Act Amendments of
1990.
"American workers need to know that when they lose their
jobs this administration is committed to helping them return to work as soon as
possible," Reich said. "It's frightening to lose your livelihood. We must do
all we can to make sure the skills of these workers are not wasted."
One grant, for $2.1 million, will be used to help
approximately 154 former employees of Zeigler Coal Company's Headquarters in
Fairview Heights and the Randolph County Operations in Coulterville, Ill.; and
the Peabody Coal Company, River King Pit No. 6 Mine in Marissa, Ill. This
project will be operated by the St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants
Department.
The second grant, for $768,000, will be used for
approximately 40 workers who lost their jobs at Freeman United Coal Company's
Industry Mine located near Macomb, Ill. This project will be operated by Carl
Sandberg College.
The grants, authorized under the Job Training Partnership
Act, will provide a number of services including skill assessment, counseling,
job search assistance, relocation assistance, vocational or occupational skills
training, on-the-job training, transportation and child care assistance and
needs-related payments.
The dislocated worker program is a comprehensive approach
to assist workers who have been, or are about to be, laid off for reasons such
as technological change, foreign competition or government actions. In general,
such workers are eligible if they are unlikely to return to their previous
industry or occupation.
Budget proposals in Congress for Fiscal Year 1996 (which
began Oct. 1, 1995) would cut funding for dislocated worker programs by 34
percent to $850 million. As a result, 246,000 fewer Americans could benefit
from employment and training support this year.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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