DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-55,053

SOLON MANUFACTURING, CO
A SUBSIDIARY OF O.E. MOSSBERS & SONS
INCLUDING LEASED WORKERS FROM ADECCO
SKOWHEGAN, MAINE

Certification 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), 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)(B) of
Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiate June 6, 2004 in response to a
petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers of Salon
Manufacturing, Co., a subsidiary of O.E. Mossbers & Sons,
Skowhegan, Maine. The workers at the subject facility produce
disposable medical supplies (such as tongue depressors), cleaning
applicators, and wooden spoons and sticks.
Workers at the subject firm were certified eligible to apply
for Trade Adjustment Assistance on March 19, 2002 (TA-W-40,810).
That certification expired March 19, 2004.
The investigation revealed that employment, sales, and
production at the subject facility decreased from 2002 to 2003 and
during the period of January through May of 2004 when compared to
the same period in 2003. The subject firm leases workers from
Adecco.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed the preponderance of
declines in employment at the subject firm is related to a shift in
production to China
Moreover, the investigation revealed that imports of
disposable medical supplies (such as tongue depressors), cleaning
applicators, and wooden spoons and sticks will increase.
In addition, In order for the Department to issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for ATAA, the group
eligibility requirements of Section 246 of the Trade Act must be
met. The Department has determined in this case that the
requirements of Section 246 have been met.
A significant number of workers at the firm are age 50 or over
and possess skills that are not easily transferable. Competitive
conditions within the industry are adverse.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive those produced at the subject firm
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 Salon Manufacturing, Co., a subsidiary of O.E.
Mossbers & Sons, including leased workers of Adecco,
Skowhegan, Maine who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after March 20, 2004 through two years
from the date of certification are eligible to apply for
adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of
1974, and are also eligible 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 June 2004.


/s/ Richard Church

______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance