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Media contact: Rick Van Cise, communications manager, 360-902-9454

The U.S. Department of Labor has ruled that all 236 employees who lost jobs when the Birds Eye canning operation in Tacoma closed last month are eligible for the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program.

Through Washington’s WorkSource centers, TAA helps retrain and re-employ workers whose positions were eliminated due to international trade.  The federally funded program also assists with job searches and relocation. 

In its ruling, the Department of Labor found that a rise in imports led to a decline in production and sales of Birds Eye’s specialty canned chili, soups and stews.  The resulting layoffs affected many workers over age 50, another important factor in triggering the Trade Act.

Under the certification, the state Employment Security Department and the WorkSource career-development system will meet with workers on July 28 at the Tacoma Teamsters’ Hall to provide information about the benefits and services available to them.

“Job one for us is to give these workers the support and skills they need to move into new careers with a more secure future,” said Carmen Cook, Employment Security’s area director for Pierce County.

The ruling covers both regular employees and those employed through temporary agencies such as New Era Staffing and Kelly Services.

WorkSource is a statewide partnership of Employment Security, local workforce development councils, other state agencies, colleges and nonprofit organizations that work together to provide free employment and training services to job seekers and employers. WorkSource also can help employers recruit and screen qualified workers, apply for employment tax breaks and qualify for subsidized employee training.

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Broadcast version

More than two-hundred workers who lost jobs when the Birds Eye canning operation in Tacoma closed in June are now eligible for a special retraining program.

The U.S. Labor Department has ruled that a jump in imports led to the shutdown of the plant, which canned specialty soups, stews and chili.  

And as a result, the workers qualify for the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which provides extended unemployment benefits, personalized career counseling, job training and job-search assistance. 

The services are delivered through the state Employment Security Department and the WorkSource system.  Employees will learn more about the assistance at a special meeting July 28th at the Tacoma Teamsters’ Hall. 

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