Carrier workers to get federal help

Federal officials representing a rapid response team will be in Morrison today with goals of helping Carrier workers who will be losing their jobs.

Majority Leader U.S. Sen. Bill Frist’s office made the announcement yesterday, noting a team comprised of the assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and the assistant secretary of Labor, Employment and Training Administration will meet with employees, union representatives and others affected by the plant’s closure.

The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Morrison Ruritan building.

The goal is to discuss how to assist workers by presenting information and providing resources for union representatives to share with displaced workers, according to a Frist spokesperson. Federal officials are also expected to gather input from meeting participants about the impact of the plant closing.

The rapid response team is the first phase of Frist’s initiative to help local workers, which he announced Feb. 27. Future plans are to discuss economic development options.

Later today, the team, also known as the Federal Jobs Response Team, will travel to Nashville to meet with workers from Vought Aircraft also affected by a plant closure.