CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch announced today that New Hampshire's Labor Commissioner George Copadis and Peter Roth, Senior Assistant Attorney General will appear in a Delaware Bankruptcy court on Thursday in an effort to recoup wages and benefits owed to more than 500 workers of the closed Car Component Technologies (CCT) of Bedford and Merrimack.

"By closing its doors without any warning to employees, this company acted irresponsibly. As a state, we are taking every action we can to help protect the rights of CCT workers," Gov. Lynch said.

Copadis and Roth will object to motions filed by CCT's parent company, American Remanufacturers, Inc., to approve the sales of the company's assets and a motion to approve a settlement with some of the company's creditors.

"The reason for this objection is to protect the rights of the former employees . . . . with respect to certain wage claims, 401(K) related claims, accrued but unused vacation time claims, and WARN Act claims," New Hampshire court claim says.

CCT closed on November 17 without warning to its 560 employees. Governor John Lynch directed the Workforce Opportunity Council and state agencies to immediately assist the workers, many of who do not speak English. Peer support counselors, outreach and assistance centers in Manchester and Nashua and a special Job Fair have been organized for the workers, and unemployment claims were expedited to all workers.

"Attorney General Roth and I will intervene on behalf of the CCT workers, and we will point out that workers claims are many times the miniscule amount the company has set aside," said Copadis.

"Governor Lynch has made it clear to the many workers he has met with personally and to us that we should do everything we can to recoup and protect all claims by the CCT workers, and we will do that."

Copadis said he was particularly upset that court papers indicate that while only $500,000 has been set aside to address the claims of 1,500 employees nationwide, the trustee representing the parent company could collect a $300,000 commission for participation in the hearing.