DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-54,103

KULICKE & SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
WILLOW GROVE DIVISION
WILLOW GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA

Negative Determinations 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 an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance. The group
eligibility requirements for directly-impacted (primary) workers
under Section 222(a) the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, can be
satisfied in either of two ways:
I. Section (a)(2)(A) all of the following must be satisfied:
A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in
such workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the
firm, have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
C. increased imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by such firm or
subdivision have contributed importantly to such
workers' separation or threat of separation and to the
decline in sales or production of such firm or
subdivision; or



II. Section (a)(2)(B) both of the following must be satisfied:

A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in
such workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the
firm, have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. there has been a shift in production by such workers'
firm or subdivision to a foreign country of articles
like or directly competitive with articles which are
produced by such firm or subdivision; and

C. One of the following must be satisfied:
1. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a party to a free
trade agreement with the United States;
2. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a beneficiary country
under the Andean Trade Preference Act, African
Growth and Opportunity Act, or the Caribbean Basin
Economic Recovery Act; or
3. there has been or is likely to be an increase in
imports of articles that are like or directly
competitive with articles which are or were produced
by such firm or subdivision.

The investigation was initiated on January 29, 2004, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Kulicke &
Soffa, Industries Inc., Willow Grove Division, Willow Grove,
Pennsylvania. The workers produce semiconductor assembly
equipment machines (i.e. wire bonders).
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(I)(C) and
(a)(II)(B) have not been met.
The investigation revealed sales, production and employment
at the subject firm declined from 2002 to 2003.
The investigation also revealed that the subject firm did
not import semiconductor assembly equipment machines (i.e. wire
bonders).
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of semiconductor
assembly equipment machines (i.e. wire bonders) from the subject
firm. The survey revealed no customer import purchases during
the period under investigation.
The petitioners allege that the firm shifted production to
Singapore and China. The investigation revealed that there was
a shift in production prior to the relevant time period of this
investigation, but the subject firm did not shift the production
of semiconductor assembly equipment machines (i.e. wire bonders)
during 2002 or 2003.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Kulicke & Soffa, Industries Inc., Willow Grove Division, Willow
Grove, Pennsylvania, are denied eligibility to apply for
adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of
1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 19th day of May 2004.


/s/ Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance