DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-53,732

CONTAINER STAPLING COMPANY
ALSO KNOWN AS ISM FASTENING SYSTEMS
A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF INTERNATIONAL STAPLE & MACHINE
COMPANY
INCLUDING LEASED WORKERS OF
EXTRA HELP
HERRIN, ILLINOIS

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 December 8, 2003, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of the workers at
Container Stapling Company, also known as ISM Fastening Systems,
a wholly owned subsidiary of International Staple & Machine
Company, Herrin, Illinois. The workers produced collated
fasteners. The workers are not separately identifiable by
product line.
The investigation revealed that Container Stapling Company
leased production workers from Extra Help.
The investigation further revealed that sales, production
and employment at the subject firm declined from 2002 to 2003.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
customers regarding their purchases of collated fasteners. This
survey revealed increases in customer imports of collated
fasteners during the relevant time period.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with those produced at Container
Stapling Company contributed importantly to the decline in sales
or production and to the total or partial separation of workers
of that firm. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I
make the following certification:
"All workers of Container Stapling Company, also known as
ISM Fastening Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of
International Staple & Machine Company, Herrin, Illinois
and leased workers of Extra Help providing contractual work
at Container Stapling Company, also known as ISM Fastening
Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Staple
& Machine Company, Herrin, Illinois who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after December 3,
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 at Washington, D.C., this 4th day of February, 2004.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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