BOSCOLA ANNOUNCES BI-STATE CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT TO ASSIST LOCAL DISPLACED WORKERS

BETHLEHEM (Jan 13) – Senator Lisa M. Boscola today announced that a joint, bi-state Rapid Response Team from Pennsylvania and New Jersey has been formed to assist Lehigh Valley workers who recently lost their jobs at Interstate Ironworks.

The joint-state Rapid Response Team will hold an initial informational meeting on Thursday, January 20^th, at 1:30 p.m. at the Bethlehem Volunteer Firemen’s Home (located at Hillmand St. & N.  New St. in Bethlehem) to assist displaced workers.

State officials from both the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development will be present at the meeting.

“It’s just been a nightmare for these workers,” Boscola said.  “They were laid off just before Christmas without any warning or any advance notice at all.”

Immediately after the company closed its doors, Boscola began working with the state Department of Labor and Industry to help local residents who worked at the New Jersey plant.

“The plant is located in Whitehouse, New Jersey,” Boscola said.  “I wanted our Department of Labor and Industry to come to where these laid-off workers live, instead of forcing them to travel to New Jersey.  When you don’t have a paycheck coming in, that kind of travel is more than just an inconvenience—it’s a real hardship.”

She also urged the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to address complaints that the company never paid its employees for their final week of work before being laid off.

“I know of many workers from the Valley who have not been paid for their hours of labor over a one-week period before being laid off,” Boscola said.  “While New Jersey officials clearly have jurisdiction over any legal issues at hand, I will continue to work with them to determine whether any labor laws were broken and to make sure these workers do get paid. 

Boscola said that the Rapid Response Team will assist area residents deal with unemployment issues, qualify for job-training programs, and take advantage of state-funded counseling and employment services.

For more information, former employees of Interstate Ironworks are urged to contact Senator Boscola’s office.

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