Statement issued Friday:

INDIANAPOLIS (June 18, 2010) – The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today announced a ruling by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that certain employees of Mid-States Tool and Machine, Inc., in Decatur, are eligible to receive services under the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.

The TAA program is made available to workers who are displaced due to foreign imports or shifts in production out of the country.

The federal ruling was issued on June 11, 2010 and applies to workers totally or partially separated from employment on or after October 22, 2008 through two years from the date of certification. The workers produced molds, dies, tooling and components.

The TAA program provides benefits to help unemployed workers prepare for and obtain suitable employment. They may be eligible for a variety of re-employment services, job search and relocation allowances and training. In addition, weekly trade re-adjustment allowances may be payable to eligible workers following the exhaustion of employment insurance benefits.

Additionally, DOL issued a certification for Re-employment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA) for separated older workers at the Decatur facility. It was found that a significant number of workers at the company age 50 and over possess skills that are not easily transferable and that competitive conditions within the industry are adverse. Older workers may choose between regular TAA benefits or a wage subsidy of 50 percent of the difference between their new salary and old salary, up to $12,000.

Eligible workers may obtain information at their local WorkOne center. A listing of all of the centers can be found at www.workoneworks.com.