By Alex Lotorto - IWW Local 570, April 22, 2016

In 1974, The Trade Adjustment Act was passed, establishing a benefit for workers separated from their jobs due to foreign trade, Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA). Here is a brochure from the Department of Labor with an overview of the program (Link).

The TRA benefit has been modified over the years, but currently includes extended unemployment benefits (normal unemployment compensation only extends 26 weeks), free retraining, relocation assistance if workers find jobs outside of their area, an Obamacare credit to purchase health insurance, and assistance to workers over 50. See here for specifics (Link).

It's not ideal and is a pittance compared to what workers were compensated before the downturn in shale gas production driven by both overproduction in North America and foreign imports of oil from OPEC nations. However, in lieu of any sound just transition policy to help energy sector workers after boom and bust cycles like the one we're facing nationally, TRA is worth pursuing.

For any shalefield workers who need an ally or assistance in applying for TRA benefits, the Northeast Pennsylvania Workers' Help Line is accessible to support this effort: (570) 478-3IWW or (570) 478-3499. Petitioners may receive assistance in preparing the petition at their local American Job Center, by contacting the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. at 202-693-3560 (Main Number).I took some time today to research the possibility of shalefield workers obtaining Trade Readjustment Allowance and found many recent decisions denying workers across the country laid off due to the downturn in production.



The Department of Labor finds in most of the cases that: "the investigation revealed that imports of crude oil, natural gas,

or NGLs did not contribute importantly to worker separations.

Aggregate United States imports of crude oil, natural gas, or

NGLs did not increase during the same period of time in which

United States production of crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs

were decreasing (2014 compared 2013 and January through May

2015 compared to the corresponding 2014 period). The

petitioner's allegation of the price of oil falling did not

correlate to an increase in aggregate United States imports of

crude oil, natural gas, and/or NGLs while United States

production of crude oil, natural gas and/or NGLs was

decreasing." Sample Denials: Cyclone Drilling, Wyoming: https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa/taadecisions/taadecision.cfm?taw=91234 Horizon Energy Services, Oklahoma: https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa/taadecisions/taadecision.cfm?taw=91181 Schlumberger, Oklahoma: https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa/taadecisions/taadecision.cfm?taw=91173 Baker Hughes, Pennsylvania: https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa/taadecisions/taadecision.cfm?taw=81706 Precision Energy Services, Pennsylvania: https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa/taadecisions/taadecision.cfm?taw=91033 However, I found one application from the shale gas era where 45 workers were certified and approved for TRA at Cimmaron Energy.