[RealJustme]

They own Obama.

Feds give laid-off Boeing workers a big helping hand. Thanks to a federal program lined up by their unions, local workers laid off during the current dip in employment at Boeing Commercial Airplanes will enjoy a financial cushion that’s much, much plumper than what the average unemployed state resident gets.

“Compared to what Joe Worker gets when they get laid off, our members have a pretty extensive safety net,” said Connie Kelliher, spokeswoman for the International Association of Machinists (IAM).

The U.S. Department of Labor has approved Boeing workers — union laid off between April 2012 and June 2015 for a package of benefits that includes drawing unemployment pay for up to 2½ years, rather than the regular six months at 80% of their former wages.

The Labor Department ruling also means that if laid-off Boeing workers need to travel, say to California, for a job interview, the government will reimburse 90 percent of the costs.

If they relocate for a new job, the government will pay 90 percent of their moving expenses and provide an additional lump-sum relocation allowance of up to $1,250.

While unemployed, they’ll also get a tax credit for nearly three-quarters of their health-care premiums. And they’re eligible for a grant of $25,000 toward the cost of a degree.

And for those workers over 50, if they have to take a lower-paid job after leaving Boeing, the government will provide up to $10,000 over two years in supplementary pay to make up some of the difference. The Labor Department approved 1,134 petitions covering an estimated 81,510 workers for the fiscal year ended September 2012.

That year, the program paid out a total $855 million in additional income support and $575 million more for training, employment and case-management services, job-search allowances, relocation allowances and program administration. That’s total funding of $1.4 billion for 2012. Rosen concedes that the program, born out of politics, may seem unfair to non-union workers laid off, he recommended they consider getting a union job if they have a problem with it.

[BilboBagend]

Put you tin foil hat back in place.