The Associated Press

ST.

Wednesday, March 13, 2002

ST. PAUL (AP) – Farmland Foods workers are closer to securing extended unemployment benefits to hold them over until the company makes a decision about whether to rebuild its burned processing plant in Albert Lea.

Minnesotans recently laid off from travel industry jobs, Fingerhut Co. and Farmland would qualify for up to an additional six months of benefits under a bill the Senate approved Tuesday.

Laid-off workers are normally entitled to 26 weeks of unemployment aid, meaning the bill would double the allowed benefits. The bill, sponsored by DFL Sen. Dave Johnson of Bloomington, was approved 60-0.

To get the extra benefits, applicants would have to enroll in a job-training program in addition to a typical requirement that they are looking for work.

The legislation has not yet passed the House.

The state push would coincide with a 13-week expansion of federal benefits approved last week by Congress as part of an economic stimulus bill.