DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-52,877

SONOCO FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
A DIVISION OF SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
INCLUDING LEASED WORKERS OF WORKLOAD, INC.
FULTON, NEW YORK

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
USC 2273), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment
Assistance, the group eligibility requirements in either paragraph
(a)(2)(A) or (a)(2)(B) of Section 222 of the Trade Act must be met.
It is determined in this case that the requirements of (a)(2)(A) of
Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiated on September 22, 2003 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of Sonoco Flexible Packaging, a division of Sunoco Products
Company, Fulton, New York. The workers at the subject firm produce
flexible packaging (shrink wrap); they are not separately
identifiable by product line.
The subject firm leased some of its production workers from
Workload, Inc., Fulton, New York.
The investigation revealed that sales and employment at the
subject firm decreased during the period of January through August
of 2003, when compared to the same period in 2002.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm shifted a
negligible proportion of its flexible packaging production to
Canada.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of flexible
packaging. This survey revealed increases in imports of flexible
packaging during the period under investigation.
In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974 (26 USC
2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for
older workers.
In order for the Department to issue a certification of
eligibility to apply for ATAA, the group eligibility requirements
of Section 246 of the Trade Act must be met. The Department has
determined in this case that the requirements of Section 246 have
been met.
A significant number of workers at the firm are age 50 or over
and possess skills that are not easily transferable. Competitive
conditions within the industry are adverse.





Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with flexible packaging produced at
Sonoco Flexible Packaging, a division of Sunoco Products Company,
Fulton, New York contributed importantly to the total or partial
separation of workers and to the decline in sales or production and
at that firm or subdivision. In accordance with the provisions of
the Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Sonoco Flexible Packaging, a division of
Sunoco Products Company, Fulton, New York, and leased workers
of Workload, Inc., Fulton, New York producing flexible
packaging at Sonoco Flexible Packaging, a division of Sunoco
Products Company, Fulton, New York who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after September 9,
2002 through two years from the date of certification are
eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223
of the Trade Act of 1974, and are also eligible to apply for
alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of
the Trade Act of 1974."
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 30th day of October, 2003.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance