DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-50,320

AMERICAN BAG CORPORATION
STEARNS PLANT
STEARNS, KENTUCKY

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 November 25, 2002 in
response to a petition filed by the company official on behalf
of workers at American Bag Corporation, Stearns Plant, Stearns,
Kentucky. The workers produced airbags.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.A) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) have not been met.
The investigation showed that employment declined from 2000
to 2001. The workers during that time were covered under a TAA
certification, TA-W-38,286.
The investigation further revealed that there was an
increase in employment from January through November of 2002
when compared to the same time period in 2001.
Furthermore, the subject firm did not import air bags from
2000 through November 2002. There was a negligible shift in
production to a foreign country during January through November
2002.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
American Bag Corporation, Stearns Plant, Stearns, Kentucky, 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 3rd day of January 2003


/s/Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance