DaimlerChrysler to File Jobless Claims for Its Workers at Two Detroit Area Plants; Michigan Unemployment Agency Says DCX Partnership Helps Everyone

    DETROIT, July 5 For workers employed at two Detroit-area
DaimlerChrysler plants, it's like Michigan's unemployment insurance program
has shifted from a manual to an automatic transmission.
    The state's Unemployment Agency (UA), in partnership with DCX, will allow
the automaker to electronically file unemployment claims on behalf of its
workers at the Sterling Assembly plant in Sterling Heights and the Jefferson
North Assembly plant in Detroit during upcoming model changeover shutdowns.
    "We will start using this new claims taking process on July 9, just in
time for the summer model changeover layoffs at the two plants," UA Director
Jack Wheatley said.  "The process will be a major convenience to these workers
as it will save them from having to file their unemployment claims in person
at an Unemployment Agency office.
    "Furthermore, once we show how well the program works, we hope to expand
the employer-filed claim program to other DaimlerChrysler plants, and use it
during future shutdowns or other lack of work layoffs," Wheatley added.
    Employer-filed claims will also be a convenience to other jobless workers
and to UA.  As the program expands, UA offices will be less congested during
model changeovers and other large-scale layoffs, allowing UA to better serve
other jobless workers and to speed up the claims taking procedure.
    In addition, the new process will allow the agency to accept claims
electronically instead of manually entering data from each claim into the
automated unemployment insurance system.
    In the week following the layoffs, DaimlerChrysler will supply UA with
electronic information about laid-off workers from the two Detroit-area plants
piloting the program.  The agency will process the data and file new or
additional unemployment claims for the workers.
    Within four days after the first full week of unemployment, UA will send
notices to workers who filed new claims advising them of their eligibility for
jobless benefits and their potential benefit amount and duration.
    During that same week, workers with new claims will also receive an
information packet outlining the claims process, their rights and
responsibilities, plus instructions on how and when to use the agency's
automated phone system (MARVIN) to receive benefits.
    For those workers reactivating existing unemployment claims, the agency
will send them information verifying the claims application as well as
instructions for using UA's MARVIN system.
    The employer-filed claim process, while making it more convenient to file
a claim, does not change the procedure for issuing an unemployment check.
    "Although DaimlerChrysler will file unemployment claims for their workers
at the Sterling Assembly and Jefferson North plants, the workers will still
need to phone MARVIN themselves to certify about their eligibility for
benefits," Wheatley pointed out.  "After they call MARVIN and they're
eligible, we'll issue an unemployment check the next business day."
    The new process should generate an unemployment check in about the same
amount of time -- two and a half to three weeks from the last day of work --
as it would if the workers filed the claims themselves.
    Wheatley also noted that the employer-filed claim process will only be for
those laid off due to a lack of work.  If the worker was separated for some
other reason or the unemployment claim cannot be processed through this
procedure, then the worker will have to file in-person at a local UA office.
    Jobless workers who have questions about the employer-filed claim process
can speak with an agency customer service representative by dialing toll-free
1-800-638-3995.