Petitioner Type: Workers
Impact Date: 11/24/2002
Filed Date: 12/04/2003
Most Recent Update: 01/12/2004
Determination Date: 01/12/2004
Expiration Date: 01/12/2006
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-53,707
DEMAG PLASTICS GROUP
FOUNTAIN INN, SOUTH CAROLINA
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)(ii)(iii) 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 December 4, 2003, in response to a petition filed by workers on behalf of all workers at Demag Plastics Group, Fountain Inn, South Carolina. The workers at the subject firm produce machine parts for plastic injection molding equipment; they are separately identifiable by function.
The investigation revealed that production and employment at the subject firm declined absolutely during the period of 2001 to 2002 and from January through September of 2003, when compared to the same period in 2002.
The investigation further revealed that the subject facility supplied the majority of its production of machine parts to its affiliated firm whose workers producing plastic injection molding machinery are certified eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under petition number TA-W-53,527.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles like or directly competitive with plastic injection molding equipment produced by Demag Plastics Group, contributed importantly to the total or partial separation of workers and to the decline in production at that firm or subdivision. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Demag Plastics Group, Fountain Inn, South Carolina, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after November 24, 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 12th day of January 2004.
/s/ Linda G. Poole
_______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance