Petitioner Type: Union
Impact Date:
Filed Date: 03/11/2004
Most Recent Update: 04/12/2004
Determination Date: 04/12/2004
Expiration Date:
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-54,479
SCA PACKAGING
f\k\a TUSCARORA, INC
STREATOR, ILLINOIS
Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance
And Alternative Trade 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 an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance as an
adversely affected secondary group.
An investigation was conducted in order to determine
whether the petitioning group of workers qualifies as adversely
affected secondary workers as suppliers of component parts to a
firm or subdivision primarily affected by increased imports or a
shift of production abroad.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance,
the following group eligibility requirements under Section
222(b) must be met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in
the workers' firm or an appropriate subdivision of the
firm have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially
separated;
(2) the workers' firm (or subdivision) is a supplier or
downstream producer to a firm (or subdivision) that
employed a group of workers who received a
certification of eligibility to apply for trade
adjustment assistance benefits and such supply or
production is related to the article that was the
basis for such certification; and
(3) either-
(A) the workers' firm is a supplier and the component
parts it supplied for the firm (or subdivision)
described in paragraph (2) accounted for at least 20
percent of the production or sales of the workers'
firm; or
(B) a loss of business by the workers' firm with the
firm (or subdivision) described in paragraph (2)
contributed importantly to the workers' separation or
threat of separation.
The investigation was initiated on March 11, 2004, in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of SCA Packaging, f\k\a Tuscarora, Inc., Streator,
Illinois. The workers produce expandable polystyrene for
packaging.
The investigation revealed that criterion (2) has not been
met.
Petitioners allege that job losses were due to their firm
losing business as a supplier to a firm that shifted production
abroad or was affected by increased imports. The investigation
revealed, however, that was not the case.
The customer for whom the subject firm supplied expandable
polystyrene produces computers. The customer is now importing
computers that are packaged to the United States. The packaging
includes the expandable polystyrene, not the computer.
The expandable polystyrene produced by the subject firm is
not a component\unfinished or semi-finished good that is
incorporated into the product produced by the subject firm.
Therefore, the product produced by the subject firm would have
to be incorporated into the customers article (computer) before
the workers of SCA Packaging could be considered eligible as an
adversely affected secondary group.
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.
In order for the Department to issue a certification of
eligibility to apply for ATAA, the worker group must be
certified eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance
(TAA). Since the workers are denied eligibility to apply for
TAA, the workers cannot be certified eligible for ATAA.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers covered
by this petition of SCA Packaging, f\k\a Tuscarora, Inc.,
Streator, Illinois do not qualify as adversely affected
secondary workers and are denied eligibility to apply for
adjustment assistance under section 223(b) of the Trade Act of
1974, and are also denied eligibility to apply for alternative
trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act
of 1974.
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 12th day of April 2004.
/s/ Elliott S. Kushner
__
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance