Spencemo for Hire: The Bitch is Back!

NOTE: This website is neither endorsed or sponsored by IUE-CWA Local 717. And, since I took the buyout, I guess neither am I!

Friday, October 06, 2006

What's in the (Union) News...

OK, so I was reading the October edition of our Union News, and, I being the opinionated sort, had a few things to say about what I read in the Vice President's report...

And he writes...
"Secondly, Local 717 filed the petition with the Department of Labor for training (TRA) and (ATAA) and have been calling almost daily on the outcome..."

OK, first, let's give everyone a heads up from the Department of Labor's website about what all the letters in this alphabet soup really mean...


Trade Readjustment Allowances
Purpose

TRA - Trade Readjustment Allowances are income support to persons who have exhausted Unemployment compensation and whose jobs were affected by foreign imports.

Eligibility

The Federal Trade Act provides special benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program to those who were laid off or had hours reduced because their employer was adversely affected by increased imports from other countries. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) provides special benefits under the NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance (NAFTA-TAA) program to those who were laid off or had hours reduced because their employer was adversely affected by increased imports from Mexico or Canada or because their employer shifted production to either of these countries. These benefits include paid training for a new job, and financial help in making a job search in other areas or relocation to an area where jobs are more plentiful. Those who qualify may be entitled to weekly TRA after their unemployment compensation is exhausted.

So what that means is TRA = money after unemployment benefits run out and TAA = benefits including training funds, and possibly money for a job search and relocation to where the jobs are.

Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) Program Benefits

Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) program benefits are provided as an alternative to the benefits offered under the regular TAA program. Participation in ATAA allows older workers, for whom retraining may not be appropriate, to accept reemployment at a lower wage and receive a wage subsidy.

So, ATAA = benefits for displaced old farts to get 'em a lower paying job and some cash to boost thier wages. Click on the links above for the complete details on these programs. You're welcome.


And he writes...
"It is very easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what should have been done or post their rhetoric on some website, when they have no clue on what they are talking about. Especially when they have never been in the game."

So, just who is he talking about, Jimmy, Joyce, or me? Well, since it's election time, it could be in reference to Jimmy's sites, since he's running against home girl Donna for Kevin's current job. I can't see his going after Joyce, so maybe, just maybe, it's me. After all, it wouldn't be the first time he's slammed this site in the Union News, and it probably won't be the last. I will answer his comment, though.

Other than during the elections, when I was being highly political in my postings in order to help bring about change to my Zone, I don't fool with that shit too much...it bores me. I created this site back in February to try to provide some good information to the people I work with, since the previous Zone had a habit of making stuff up as he went along. I resent the accusation of being a 'Monday morning quarterback', for the simple reason that how can any of us really try to say what should have been done when we don't seem to get enough 'official' information to know what's going on half of the time anyway?!

And he writes...
"I am not against having a local union website, where factual information can be given to the membership."

First off, we already do have an official local union website, however, I don't think that it's been updated since 2002. Secondly, you're in luck! Websites just like mine are available absolutely free courtesy of sites like Blogger (my host) and Blogdrive (the former home for my personal blog). Running a blog takes almost no time to maintain at places like these, and, like I said, they're free. So go ahead, dive right in.

And he writes...
"Don't allow the Monday morning quarterbacks to drag you into their web."

Well, all I have to say about that is, come to the Dark Side...We've got cookies...


Dawn