DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-50,254

PRECISION TOOL AND DESIGN, INC.
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA


Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (19 USC 2273), the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance. The group eligibility
requirements for directly-impacted (primary) workers under Section
222(a) the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, can be satisfied in
either of two ways:
I. Section (a)(2)(A) all of the following must be satisfied:
A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the firm,
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
C. increased imports of articles like or directly competitive
with articles produced by such firm or subdivision have
contributed importantly to such workers' separation or
threat of separation and to the decline in sales or
production of such firm or subdivision; or









II. Section (a)(2)(B) both of the following must be satisfied:

A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the firm
firm, have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. there has been a shift in production by such workers' firm
or subdivision to a foreign country of articles like or
directly competitive with articles which are produced by
such firm or subdivision; and

C. One of the following must be satisfied:
1. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a party to a free trade
agreement with the United States;
2. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a beneficiary country
under the Andean Trade Preference Act, African Growth
and Opportunity Act, or the Caribbean Basin Economic
Recovery Act; or
3. there has been or is likely to be an increase in
imports of articles that are like or directly
competitive with articles which are or were produced
by such firm or subdivision.

The investigation was initiated on December 6, 2002, in
response to a petition filed by workers on behalf of workers of
Precision Tool and Design, Inc., Erie, Pennsylvania. The workers
produce plastic molds.
The investigation revealed that Section (a)(2)(A)(C) and
Section (a)(2)(B) were not satisfied.
The investigation revealed that the subject company neither
increased import purchases nor shifted production abroad.
The Department of Labor conducted a survey of the subject
company's major customers regarding their purchases of plastic
molds during the time periods 2000, 2001, January-November 2001 and
January-November 2002. The survey revealed no increased import
purchases during the periods of subject company sales decline.
A previous Trade Adjustment Assistance petition was denied,
TA-W-40,303 (signed March 18, 2002).
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Precision Tool and Design, Inc., Erie, Pennsylvania are denied
eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223
of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.

Signed in Washington, D.C. this 2nd day of January 2003.


/s/Richard Church
______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance