Skip to content Back to Top

Laid Off Wards Cove Workers Now Eligible For Trade Benefits

Mar. 5, 2003
No. 03-08

Juneau: Laid off workers from Wards Cove Packing are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistant (TAA) benefits, Greg O'Claray, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD) announced today. Approximately 1,400 workers let go from Wards Cove salmon processing plants in Alaska can now apply for TAA retraining, job search and relocation assistance.

Wards Cove announced in mid-December 2002 that due to competition from farm salmon imports and weak overseas markets that it would be closing its doors in Alaska and their central office in Seattle. On February 25, 2003, the U.S. Department of Labor certified that Wards Cove Packing was eligible for TAA benefits due to the increase of salmon product imports which had a direct negative affect on the company. The certification will expire on February 25, 2005.

All workers who are laid off from Wards Cove between January 10, 2002 through February 25, 2005 are eligible to apply for TAA benefits. Trade benefits include reemployment and retraining opportunities, job search and career counseling, job placement and relocation allowances.

Workers who were employed by Wards Cove for at least 26 weeks in the past year AND who are eligible for unemployment insurance will also be entitled to weekly Trade Readjustment Allowances, which are income supports, and a health insurance tax credit.

Employees from the following Wards Cove Packing facilities are eligible to apply for TAA benefits:

Wards Cove central office - Seattle
Alitak Cannery -Alitak
Ekuk Cannery - Dillingham
Excursion Inlet - Excursion Inlet
Red Salmon Cannery - Naknek
Wards Cove Cannery - South Naknek
Wards Cove Cannery - Ketchikan
EC Phillips & Son - Ketchikan
Resurrection Bay Seafoods - Seward
Egegik Fish Camp - Egegik
EC Phillips & Son - Craig
Haines Fish Camp - Haines

The Department of Labor TAA Office is working with Wards Cove officials to identify impacted workers and will be moving quickly to notify laid off individuals of their eligibility to apply for benefits.

Self-employed fishers who sold their fish to Wards Cove may also be eligible, but will need to file a petition in order to seek certification. The department's TAA office is available to help any fishers with tips and short-form instructions for petition filing. Petitions can be printed from the TAA website at jobs.alaska.gov/taa (click on the yellow fishing boat).

"We've been waiting for the US Department of Labor to fulfill their commitment to help our displaced fishers and our salmon-dependent coastal communities with Trade Assistance, "O'Claray said. "This particular processor was easily able to show the negative impacts resulting from the rise of imported and farmed salmon. This makes a big difference in getting Trade Assistance."

Hundreds of fishers were denied similar benefits last fall due to rigid application criteria. Recent trade reform enacted by Congress has proven to have similar hurdles for fishers. "Hopefully, as more processors petition for Trade Assistance, more self-employed fishers will become eligible, and we'll have the trickle down impact so urgently needed in our fishing communities," said O'Claray.

###