DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-53,512

PLUS MARK, INC.
A SUBSIDIARY OF AMERICAN GREETINGS COMPANY
GREENEVILLE, TENNESSEE

Certification Regarding Eligibility to Apply for
Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility to
Apply for Alternative Trade 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 November 12, 2003 in
response to a petition filed by an official of the Union of
Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees on behalf of workers
at Plus Mark, Inc., a subsidiary of the American Greetings Company,
Greeneville, Tennessee. The workers at the subject firm produce
boxed greeting cards.
The investigation revealed that sales, production, and
employment at the subject firm declined during the period of
January through October of 2003 compared to the same period in
2002.
The investigation further revealed that company imports of
boxed greeting cards increased during the above period.
In addition, 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.
The group eligibility criteria for the ATAA program

that the Department must consider under Section 246 of the

Trade Act are:
1. Whether a significant number of workers in the workers'
firm are 50 years of age or older.
2. Whether the workers in the workers' firm possess skills
that are not easily transferable.
3. The competitive conditions within the workers' industry
(i.e., conditions within the industry are adverse).
The Department has determined that criterion 2 has not been
met.
The investigation revealed that workers of the subject firm
possess skills that are easily transferable.

Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with boxed greeting cards produced at
Plus Mark, Inc., a subsidiary of the American Greetings Company,
Greeneville, Tennessee 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 Plus Mark, Inc., a subsidiary of the American
Greetings Company, Greeneville, Tennessee who became totally
or partially separated from employment on or after November 7,
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."
I further determine that all workers of Plus Mark, Inc., a
subsidiary of the American Greetings Company, Greeneville,
Tennessee are denied eligibility to apply for alternative
trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade
Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 18th day of December 2003

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