Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act

Summary

Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act - Prohibits an employer from ordering a plant closing or mass layoff until the end of a 60-day period after the employer serves written notice of a proposal to issue such an order to: (1) the representative of the affected employees, or if there is no representative, to each affected employee; and (2) the State dislocated worker unit and the affected local government. Defines "employer" as any business enterprise that employs: (1) 100 or more employees, excluding part-time employees; or (2) 100 or more employees who in the aggregate work at least 4,000 hours per week (excluding overtime). Defines "plant closing" as the permanent or temporary shutdown of a single site of employment, or one or more facilities or operating units within a single site of employment, if the shutdown results in an employment loss at the single site of employment during any 30-day period for 50 or more employees, excluding any part-time employees. Defines "mass layoff" as a reduction in force which is not the result of a plant closing and results in an employment loss (excluding part-time employees) at the single site of employment during any 30-day period for: (1) at least 33 percent of the employees and at least 50 employees; or (2) at least 500 employees. Defines "part-time employee" as one who is employed for an average of fewer than 20 hours per week or who has been employed for fewer than six of the 12 months preceding the date of the required notice. Defines "employment loss" as: (1) an employment termination, other than a discharge for cause voluntary departure, or retirement; (2) a layoff exceeding six months; or (3) a reduction in hours of work of more than 50 percent during each month of any six-month period. Excludes from such definition closings or layoffs resulting from part or all of the employer's business being: (1) sold, if the purchaser either agrees to offer employment to the employee with no more than a six-month break in employment or, within 30 days after the purchase, offers such employment to the employee with no more than such a six-month break; or (2) relocated or consolidated, if, prior to the closing or layoff, the employer offers to transfer the employee, with no more than a six-month break in employment, either to a different site of employment within a reasonable commuting distance or to any other site of employment regardless of distance, if in the latter case the employee accepts such transfer within 30 days after the offer or closing or layoff, whichever is later. Provides for reduction of such 60-day notification period if: (1) the closing or layoff is caused by business circumstances not reasonably foreseeable; or (2) giving notification of the shutdown of a single site of employment would have precluded (in the employer's reasonable and good faith belief) obtaining the capital or business which it was actively seeking and which would enable it to avoid or indefinitely postpone the shutdown. Requires employers who rely on exemptions from the 60-day notification period requirement to give as much notice as is practicable, along with a brief statement of the basis for reducing the notification period. Treats as employment losses layoffs of more than six months which, at their outset, were announced to be layoffs of six months or less, unless: (1) the extension beyond six months is caused by business circumstances (including unforeseeable changes in price or cost) not reasonably foreseeable at the time of the initial layoff; and (2) notice is given at the time it becomes reasonably foreseeable that the extension beyond six months will be required. Treats as a plant closing or mass layoff employment losses within any 90-day period for two or more groups at a single site of employment each of which separately is less than the minimum required to trigger notification but which in the aggregate exceed such minimum, unless the employer demonstrates that such employment losses are the result of separate and distinct actions and causes and are not an attempt by the employer to evade the requirements of this Act. Exempts from the notification requirements of this Act a plant closing or mass layoff if: (1) it results from completion of a particular project or undertaking, or the closing of a temporary facility, and the affected employees were hired with the understanding that their employment was limited to the duration of such project, undertaking, or facility; or (2) it constitutes a strike or a lockout not intended to evade the requirements of this Act. Makes an employer who orders a plant closing or mass layoff in violation of the notice requirements of this Act liable to employees for back pay and benefits and subject to civil penalties for violations with respect to a local government. Creates a cause of action in the appropriate U.S. district court to enforce such liability. Authorizes the court in such cases to require the defendant to pay reasonable attorneys' fees, along with the costs of the action. States that such remedies shall be the exclusive remedies for any violation of this Act. States that the rights and remedies provided to employees by this Act are in addition to any other contractual or statutory rights and remedies of the employees. Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that any employer not subject to the notice requirements should, to the extent possible, notify its employees about a proposal to close a plant or permanently reduce its workforce. Directs the Secretary of Labor to prescribe regulations to carry out this Act, including interpretative regulations describing the methods by which employers may provide for appropriate service of notice. Provides that the giving of notice in good faith compliance with this Act shall not constitute a violation of the National Labor Relations Act or the Railway Labor Act.

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Timeline

1. 16 June 1988

   Calendars

   Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 735.

   Source: Calendars

2. 16 June 1988

   Introduced

   Introduced in the Senate, read the first time.

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 16 June 1988

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 22 June 1988

   Floor

   Measure laid before Senate by motion.

   Source: Floor

5. 23 June 1988

   Floor

   Considered by Senate.

   Source: Floor

6. 24 June 1988

   Floor

   Considered by Senate.

   Source: Floor

7. 27 June 1988

   Floor

   Considered by Senate.

   Source: Floor

8. 28 June 1988

   Floor

   Considered by Senate.

   Source: Floor

9. 29 June 1988

   Floor

   Considered by Senate.

   Source: Floor

10. 6 July 1988

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 72-23. Record Vote No: 225.

    Source: Floor

11. 6 July 1988

    Floor

    Considered by Senate.

    Source: Floor

12. 12 July 1988

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H.Res.491 Reported to House.

    Source: Floor

13. 12 July 1988

    Floor

    Committee on Rules Granted a Modified Closed Rule Providing One Hour of General Debate; the Rule Provides that No Amendment is in Order Except an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute; Section Two of the Rule Provides for Two Hours of General Debate on H.R.4848; Waiving All Points of Order. No Amendment to the Bill is in Order.

    Source: Floor

14. 13 July 1988

    Vote

    Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 286 - 136 (Record Vote No: 229).

    Source: Floor

15. 13 July 1988

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 286 - 136 (Record Vote No: 229).

    Source: Floor

16. 13 July 1988

    Floor

    Called up by House by Rule.

    Source: Floor

17. 13 July 1988

    Passed

    Rule Passed House.

    Source: Floor

18. 21 July 1988

    Floor

    Measure Signed in Senate.

    Source: Floor

19. 22 July 1988

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

20. 22 July 1988

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

21. 4 August 1988

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 100-379.

    Source: President

22. 4 August 1988

    Became law

    Sent to National Archives and Records Administration Unsigned.

    Source: BecameLaw

23. 4 August 1988

    President

    Sent to National Archives and Records Administration Unsigned.

    Source: President

Votes

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

3 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 5 August 1988

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 6 July 1988

  Open at official source

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 16 June 1988

  Open at official source

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Sponsors

• Sen. Metzenbaum, Howard M. [D-OH] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Roth Jr., William V. [R-DE] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Byrd, Robert C. [D-WV] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Bentsen, Lloyd M. [D-TX] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Durenberger, Dave [R-MN] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Gore, Albert, Jr. [D-TN] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Stafford, Robert T. [R-VT] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Riegle, Donald W., Jr. [D-MI] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Moynihan, Daniel Patrick [D-NY] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Proxmire, William [D-WI] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Bradley, Bill [D-NJ] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Pell, Claiborne [D-RI] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Mitchell, George J. [D-ME] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Adams, Brock [D-WA] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Sarbanes, Paul S. [D-MD] · D · Cosponsor

Related records

• related to → Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
• related to → A resolution providing for the consideration of the bill (S. 2527) to require advance notification of plant closings and mass layoffs, and for other purposes, and for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 4848) to enhance the competitiveness of American industry, and for other purposes.
• amends ← To require full reporting to the Federal Election Commission of all expenditures made by labor organizations, corporations, and political parties for the purpose of influencing a Federal election.
• amends ← SAMDT 2449
• amends ← SAMDT 2445
• amends ← No notice under this Act shall be required if the closing or mass layoff is due, directly or indirectly, to any form of natural disaster, such as a flood, earthquake, or the drought currently ravaging the farmlands of the U.S.
• amends ← SAMDT 2452
• amends ← SAMDT 2450
• amends ← SAMDT 2448
• amends ← In the nature of a substitute.

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