KPly workers OK'd for unemployment program
By Brian Gawley, Peninsula Daily News
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State and union officials said Friday that the federal Department of Labor certified on April 21 that KPly workers were eligible for the federal program, often called "the Cadillac of unemployment benefit programs."
KPly workers could be eligible for additional benefits for training and income assistance during that training, as well as access to the state's Basic Health Plan at 35 percent of the regular cost.
That was good news to the workers, who have been laid off from the plywood mill on Marine Drive in Port Angeles since Nov. 2.
Union and state officials said that the mill's owner, Klukwan Inc. of Alaska, sought financing, but the owners themselves were mum.
On Feb. 29, the owners notified the state Department of Employment Security and the company's union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge W2, that it planned to close the 67-year-old mill permanently on April 28.
Many of the workers have taken other jobs or sought retraining for professions outside the wood products industry, while they grappled with living with uncertainty and unemployment benefits.
One such worker at Friday's meeting was Wesley Armstrong, 49, who is trying to pursue a new career after working at KPly for 10 years as a millwright.
"I've just been jumping through hoops the past six months," Armstrong said.
Those hoops included enrolling in welding classes at Peninsula College, which he plans to use for getting a job in the Alaska fisheries industry, he said.
Bob Lawrence, WorkSource education coordinator at Peninsula College, said more than 30 KPly employees have enrolled at the college.
Mike Rooney, 60, is among them.
He enrolled at Peninsula College after seven years as an equipment mechanic at KPly.
Like Armstrong, he hopes for work in welding.
"There's more welding jobs," he said.
International causes
State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, said KPly workers became eligible for the federal benefits because of lobbying by himself and others, including the area's congressional delegation and the company's union.
They argued that KPly's troubles were caused by low wage rates in China and timber subsidies in Canada, Van De Wege said.
"We believed all along that that's a big reason KPly shut down, and that's why we were able to get the Trade Adjustment Act, said Van De Wege, whose 25th District covers Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbor counties.
"These benefits are pretty substantial, and just helps people out."
Rob Mills, Trade Adjustment Assistance coordinator, said KPly's application was rushed through the process exactly because many of the employees were about to run out of regular and extended unemployment benefits.
But though the company itself has been certified for the program, now each employee must apply for the benefits, he said.
Bill Messenger, Workforce Investment Act labor liaison to the Labor Council, said people should fill out their paperwork for unemployment benefits, even if they have found another job, to lock in their benefits.
"It takes a lot of persistence. I know this doesn't replace your job but it's the next best thing," he said.
State help
In the months since the workers received their layoff notices, many have taken advantage of the retraining benefits offered through the state Department of Employment Security.
Michael Olsen, 47, who worked at KPly for four years as a forklift driver, has been collecting unemployment and taking the commercial driver's license course at Peninsula College.
He takes his driving test on Tuesday. He hopes to find work in long-haul trucking or in Alaska.
Frank Cariker, 67, took a janitorial job at the Elks Naval Lodge in Port Angeles.
"I'm old enough to retire, but after six months, I realized I was getting fat and had no hobbies, so I had to get back to work," he said.
"It's a pretty good job. I'm my own boss as long as I get my work done," he said.
But the job does pay $4 an hour less than what he made at KPly, so he planned to find out about the older worker subsidy program that pays half the difference between an older worker's old wage and new wage, Cariker said.
Art Underwood, 29, said he "hasn't been doing much" since being laid off from the KPly job he held for two years.
"I've been looking for work, and going to school for welding and auto mechanics," he said.
Jon Underwood, 30, said he took a temporary job after working at KPly for four years as a lathe spotter.
But he left that job to take the commercial driver's license course through Peninsula College.
Lawrence said three Peninsula College programs are particularly helpful: New Chance, an eight week transition program for going to college or re-entering the work force, the commercial driver's license program and an aluminum welding class.
The college also offers courses in auto mechanics, nursing, culinary arts and medical assistant, as well as a four-year applied management degree for those who already have two-year degrees, Lawrence said.
"If you are thinking of attending college, talk to your counselors," he said.
"They'll help you get into what you want."
Benefits available
According to a handout distributed at the meeting, Trade Adjustment Assistance includes job search allowances and relocation allowances.
It also includes on-the-job and classroom training, transportation and subsistence allowances.
Also available are trade readjustment allowances — weekly benefits paid while in approved training after the person has exhausted regular and extended unemployment insurance.
Mills said "income support" is available for fairly long-term training, up to two and a half years.
But the program has no support services such as child care subsidies, so people should enroll in other programs as well, he said.
For more information, phone Messenger at 360-357-8736.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-417-3532 or brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: May 10. 2008 9:00PM