Tracy Samuel worked in the UCO plant in Rockingham for five years. Now that the plant has closed, she has a plan to move into a new career field, and is trying to stay upbeat.

“Basically, I’m going back to school to study early childhood development,” she said Wednesday morning. “I love kids, they are my passion. You know, everything that’s bad has a silver lining, and this may be the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

Thanks to a decision by the federal government, she and other laid-off UCO workers will have some stop-gap assistance so that they can pursue another career.

Laid-off UCO workers have qualified for federal assistance to enter another field of work under the federal TRADE Act, and Samuel and 10 of her colleagues attended an orientation for the services and benefits that determination affords them at the Rockingham Employment Security Commission Office Wednesday.

Under the 2008 TRADE Act legislation, these workers are entitled to an extended period of unemployment claims, assistance with training or education to enter another field and even reimbursement for job-related relocation expenses.

This is because the U.S. Department of Labor determined their jobs were lost because of federal trade policies and participation in international trade agreements.

There are several components of TRADE Act benefits that are pertinent to this group of workers.

First, the Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) program allows the time period these workers can draw unemployment claims to double from the normal 26 week period, to 52 weeks.

Second, the Trade Adjustment Assistance program allows these workers to receive a weekly check to assist them in entering retraining, up to obtaining a two year associate degree.

Third, if a displaced worker who is 50 or older gets a lower paying job than the one they lost, the Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) program will pay half of the difference between the two salaries, for a period of two years or a total benefit of $10,000.

Fourth, a Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) program allows these workers to claim a tax credit on their income tax returns for premiums paid under a new policy, or if they are added to an existing policy.

“You don’t have to go to school,” local ESC office manager Judy Carpenter told those in attendance. “No one is going to make you. There are still additional benefits attached, but I would like to encourage you to do that, especially if you don’t have your GED or high school diploma.”

She explained that if workers pursued their GED or Career Readiness Certification, she can waive their job search requirements to draw unemployment claims while they study for testing.

If they do choose to enroll in school, there is a certain time period during which they have to enroll.

A discussion of the education component of the TRADE Act illicited the most response from the group.

“How soon can we enroll in the remedial classes,” one worker asked. “I’ve been out of school for 20 years, and I’ll have to take those classes to brush up.”

Carpenter answered that he could enroll immediately.

Leon Joseph said that he worked for UCO for 19 years.

“I’m just trying to decide what I’m going to do,” he said. “I think I need to get back in school and take some remedial courses.”

He’s been out of school since 1984.

“I have training and skills, but they’re in textiles, and I need something that you can get a job with now,” he said. “It’s frustrating. I have a lot of things that I need to work out.”

This is Martha Ballard’s third plant closing. She’s interested in entering a new field, but her husband is in ill health, and she feels she needs to continue working.

“Most of the time, I haven’t stayed on unemployment long before I found a job,” she said. “I’m a hopeful person. I think it’s going to work out.”