Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities

As described in Section III(a)(2)(C), the Rapid Response Team coordinates services for each TAA petition. Informational meetings are held for individuals affected by a trade-related job loss to provide benefit and service information in person. It is evident many workers facing layoff are not always able to understand all of the information they are provided during this stressful time. To provide on-going information and support, state TAA staff and other staff trained to provide TAA information are available in each local workforce development area.

Trade Adjustment Assistance Rapid Response Activities

Partnerships

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs are delivered through partnerships between Commerce, WIOA Core and Required partner programs as well as other workforce system partners to provide seamless services to customers. All staff members approving TAA benefits are merit staff, both at the state administrative and the local level. This is to ensure the requirement for this rule as prescribed by the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act (TGAAA) has been met.

Outreach

A customer may learn about the TAA Program through TAA informational meetings, Rapid Response meetings or outreach conducted by WIOA Core and Required partners. Rapid Response is a team effort staffed by representatives from key workforce development partners at both the state and local levels. The coordination of Rapid Response events not only helps businesses and dislocated workers, but also helps develop linkages between the TAA program and other workforce programs.

TAA Information Meetings

When a TAA petition is filed, the State Trade Act Coordinator will contact the state and/or local Rapid Response Coordinator to determine if an informational meeting has already been held for the affected workers. If it has, the Coordinators will work together to ensure these workers are provided information on TAA benefits and services. If the meeting hasn’t been held, the Coordinators will work together to ensure a meeting takes place as soon as possible and TAA benefits and services are presented to these workers. During these meetings the worker will be instructed to go to the nearest workforce center to make application for TAA benefits. RR staff will coordinate reasonable accommodations for effected workers to assist in accessing TAA information.

State Department of Labor (UI)

If a customer contacts the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL)/Unemployment Insurance Call Center to file an unemployment insurance claim, the customer will be instructed to go to the nearest workforce center to make application for TAA benefits if they have been laid off by a company having a certified TAA petition.

There is a very close working relationship with KDOL/Trade Adjustment Allowances (TRA) staff, including constant communication regarding TAA customers for almost every aspect of the program. For example, Kansas has a TRA Statement request used as a communication piece between agencies to ensure the customer meets eligibility deadlines.

Service Delivery and Compliance

Local TAA services are delivered at the Workforce Centers; therefore, the One-Stop delivery system serves as an important avenue for linking TAA with its WIOA Core, Required program partners, as well as other partners, in the area effected.

Workforce center staff work with the customer to ensure registration in KANSASWORKS.com, a combined MIS system, which is another element supporting the development of strong linkages between the TAA program and other workforce development partners. KANSASWORKS.com is capable of linking multiple state agencies and currently links WIOA Youth, Adult, Dislocate Worker, W-P, Trade Act, Reemployment Services, JVSG, Unemployment Insurance, Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment and the Senior Community Service Employment Program. The system is capable of cross-programmatic service delivery and provides management case files for multiple programs and/or agencies. Information on a participant can be accessed without moving from one agency system to another. Because case managers from different agencies have access to the same participant data, the entire system has become seamless to deliver better services for common customers of programs using KANSASWORKS.com.

Once a customer is deemed TAA eligible, they will complete the Application for Trade Act Benefits form with a TAA case manager (CM), complete an initial assessment to identify their initial employment plan, and will be offered the eight required employment and case management services. It is during these interactions with an assigned case manager trade-affected workers in the groups identified in the TAA petitions with an accurate understanding of the provision of TAA benefits and services.

Employer Contact

The State or Local Rapid Response Coordinator makes immediate contact with the employer to determine the layoff plans and to schedule informational meetings for the affected workers. The goal is to hold pre-layoff meetings at the work-site; however, the details are determined based on the employer’s needs and desires. Every effort is made to best accommodate the employer and promote attendance. Post-layoff informational meetings may also be arranged and held, if necessary.

Union Contact

When the affected workers are organized under a union, the Local Rapid Response Coordinator notifies the local or regional union office of the time, date and location of the pre-layoff informational meeting so the union may promote the meeting to its members. If meetings cannot be held at the work site, the union hall may be a suitable alternative.

The order of preference for meeting location is first, the work site; second, the union facility; and third, another location approved by labor and management.

Other

If the employer has already closed the plant, isn’t responding to our contact or if there is no Union involvement, there are several different avenues we will try in notifying the workers. RR will provide outreach through print ads or radio ads in the area of lay-off and collaborate with KDOL to send out information regarding meetings.