Unemployment benefits in Tennessee haven't changed in nearly 20 years

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. --- Former U.S. Marble employees are calling on state lawmakers to address unemployment benefits that haven't changed in nearly two decades after the company abruptly closed last month.

Without any notice, former U.S. Marble employees learned of the company's closure through an email on Jan. 3. Since then, many of the employees have survived on unemployment benefits that haven't increased since 2001.

"What I've paid in, I don't feel like I'm getting my share," said Crystal Wilcox, a former U.S. Marble employee. "I've had to make a huge adjustment in my life."

Members of the Tennessee General Assembly determine the state's unemployment benefits, which have remained $275 per week, before taxes, since Aug. 2001.

Given the state's financial health, and a sizeable rainy day fund, state Rep. David Hawk of Greeneville believes it may be time to re-examine how Tennessee supports recently displaced workers.

RELATED STORY: Lawmaker supports re-examining laws after U.S. Marble in Johnson City abruptly closes

"We've had some discussions over the last two years about what it looks like if we do increase that," Hawk said. "I think that's fair game for conversation right now."

In addition to losing their jobs, U.S. Marble employees also lost their health insurance coverage. Rita Tittle, who worked at the company for 9 years, said she wasn't able to qualify for Tennessee's low-income health coverage, TennCare, because of assets she owns.

"If you own your own home and more than one vehicle that you've worked hard for, and paid for, they ain't gonna help you," Tittle said.

Hawk said there needs to be a process that TennCare applications can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to help displaced employees like those at U.S. Marble.

"See if we can open a door with the state insurance plan and see if we can help them," Hawk said.

Wage complaints have been sent by former employees of U.S. Marble to the Tennessee Dept. of Labor, though the agency doesn't have jurisdiction since the company already closed.

Tennessee employers with more than 50 employees are required to give employees advanced notice about mass layoffs. U.S. Marble in Johnson City had fewer than 50 employees and didn't give notice before the company was closed.

Clio Holdings, U.S. Marble's parent company, had more than 1,000 employees when it announced bankruptcy proceedings in January. Private equity firm Oakland Standard Co., which owned Clio Holdings, established a new company within weeks of the bankruptcy announcement.

Displaced workers in Tennessee can find resources through the Tennessee Dept. of Labor here.

RELATED STORY: Former U.S. Marble employees still haven't received back pay following abrupt closure