DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-53,050

SAPPI FINE PAPER
ALLENTOWN FACILITY
ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

Certification 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 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 sales and/or production have
decreased absolutely at the workers firm or subdivision and an
increase in imports of articles like or directly competitive with
articles produced by the workers' firm or subdivision contributed
importantly to workers' separation or threat of separation and to
the decline in the sales or production of the subject firm or
subdivision.
The investigation was initiated on September 30, 2003 in
response to a petition filed by the Paper, Allied-Industrial,
Chemical and Energy Workers International Union on behalf of
workers at Sappi Fine Paper-Allentown Facility, a division of Sappi
Fine Paper, Allentown, Pennsylvania. The workers at the subject
firm produce coated fine paper.
The investigation revealed that production and employment at
the subject firm declined during the period of January through
August of 2003, when compared to the same period in 2002.
The investigation further revealed that company imports of
coated fine paper increased during the relevant period.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with coated fine paper produced at
Sappi Fine Paper-Allentown Facility, a division of Sappi Fine
Paper, Allentown, Pennsylvania 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 Sappi Fine Paper-Allentown Facility, a
division of Sappi Fine Paper, Allentown, Pennsylvania who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after September 29, 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."
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 24th day of October 2003.

/s/ Richard Church


_______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance