Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release 
Georgia Department of 
Labor 
Suite 642  148 International Boulevard N.E. 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032 
 
July 2, 1999 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
NASHVILLE AREA WORKERS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR TRA/NAFTA BENEFITS 
 
ATLANTA -- State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said today that former employees of Nashville Textiles and Nashville GA Screen Print in Berrien County may be eligible for compensation under provisions of either the federal Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 or the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act of 1993. 
 
About 200 workers, engaged in the production of women's and children's sportswear, may be affected. The plant closed in April. 
 
Claims for these workers may be filed on Tuesday or Wednesday, July 27-28, at Berrien County High School on Highway 129 North in Nashville. The Georgia Department of Labor office that serves the area is in Tifton at 310 South Tift Avenue. The office telephone number is (912) 3863322. The office, which serves Ben Hill, Berrien, Irwin, Tift and Turner counties, is open from 8 a. m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 
 
The TRA and NAFTA petitions, both certified on May 28 by the U. S. Department of Labor, were filed on behalf of the employees of the company who lost their jobs due to foreign import competition. The TRA petition covers workers who became totally or partially separated from their jobs on or after April 12, 1998. TRA provides assistance to workers impacted by imports from any foreign country, while NAFTA provides assistance to workers affected because of imports from Canada and Mexico or shifts in production from the United States to those countries. The NAFTA petition had an impact date of April 14, 1998. Workers covered under both TRA and NAFTA petitions must choose under which program to file claims. 
 
Under the federal law, former workers who are determined to be eligible could receive a total of 78 weeks of jobless benefits, which would include 26 weeks of regular unemployment 
 
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 Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release 
compensation, plus up to 52 weeks of TRA or NAFTA benefits. Eligible recipients must be either enrolled in approved training, or have that requirement waived, to receive the weekly federal benefits. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $264. 
 
Claimants will also receive other assistance, including employment counseling, testing, job search grants, placement services and relocation benefits. All available benefits will be discussed individually with each claimant at the time the claim is filed. 
 
NEWS MEDIA NEEDING MORE INFORMATION SHOULD CALL THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AT (404) 656-3032. 
 
E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us. 
 
FY-00-3 
 
An Equal Opportunity Employer 
 
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