DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-50,297

PROGRESSIVE DIE AND AUTOMATION
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

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, 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 12, 2002, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Progressive
Die and Automation, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The workers at the
subject firm produced metal stamping dies.
The investigation revealed that criteria (I.C) and (II.B)
have not been met.
The subject firm did not import metal stamping dies or
shift production of metal stamping dies to a foreign country.
The United States Department of Labor conducted a survey of
the subject firm's major customers regarding their purchases of
metal stamping dies during 2001 and 2002. Respondents reported
they did not increase imports of metal stamping dies while
reducing purchases from the subject firm.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Progressive Die and Automation, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 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 24th day of February 2003.
/s/ Richard Church
_______________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance