CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch said that New Hampshire state government is continuing its efforts to assist employees who lost their jobs when Car Components Technology in Bedford abruptly closed, including with a job fair tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the National Guard Armory in Manchester.

More than 40 companies, as well as social service agencies, will attend the job fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the Armory. Gov. Lynch will visit the Fair at approximately 11 a.m.

"This Job Fair is an important part of a comprehensive and coordinated effort by New Hampshire state government to do everything possible to help CCT employees re-enter the workforce as quickly as possible, and to help families get through this difficult time," Gov. Lynch said.

In addition to the Job Fair, the state's rapid response team and Workforce Opportunity Council, as well as several other state agencies, have also joined together to take a number of other steps to assist workers:

• Hired two peer support counselors to assist CCT workers.
• Two worker assistance and outreach program centers will soon be opened and staffed with bilingual counselors and/or peer support counselors. The centers will work exclusively with former CCT employees to determine career counseling, job re-entry and job training needs.
• Applied for federal Trade Act assistance funds for job retraining services.
• Preparing to apply for a U.S. National Emergency Grant if needed to replenish currently available funds to assist dislocated workers.
• The State has intervened in the bankruptcy proceedings for Car Components Technology to attempt to protect the rights of laid-off workers.

In addition, New Hampshire's Labor Commissioner George Copadis has written CCT corporate executives a letter demanding back wages for employees, and warning them that under New Hampshire law they could be held personally liable.

"Pursuant to RSA 275:42, V, as a corporate officer, you are the employer and are personally liable for the payment of wages. You knew, or reasonably should have known, that CCT would close on or about November 18, 2005, at which point all employees would be terminated summarily from employment, and that CCT would not have sufficient funds or make any provision for the payment of all employee wages owed within 72 hours from the date they were terminated. This is a direct violation of RSA 273 and 274," Copadis wrote.

"I have a list of the employees deemed by CCT policy to be entitled to accrued vacation pay, pension fund contributions and other benefits pursuant to CCT's handbook. Each employee's entitlement is different. Please contact me upon receipt of this correspondence and I will forward the list to you promptly. If you do not respond to me within 14 calendar days from the date of this letter, I will pursue action against you personally," Copadis wrote.