Sawmill Employees Eligible For Relief

Twenty laid-off sawmill workers in Colville are now eligible for relief through the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration Tuesday authorized the 20 former workers at John Chopot Lumber Co. in Colville to receive unemployment benefits because of increased Canadian lumber imports.

Under NAFTA provisions, workers qualify for assistance if they lose work or have their hours reduced because of increased competition from Canadian or Mexican companies.

The unemployment benefits can come in the form of more money on top of regular unemployment benefits, job retraining or the extension of unemployment benefits, said Jeannine Lupton of the labor department in Seattle.

A group of three or more employees can petition for the benefits. Union and company officials can apply on behalf of the employees as well.

, DataTimes