DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-55,470

THOMAS & BETTS
FORMERLY L.E. MASON
DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS

Negative Determinations Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance
And Alternative Trade 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 investigation was initiated on August 18, 2004 in response to a
petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers at Thomas
& Betts, formerly L.E. Mason, Dedham, Massachusetts. Workers at
the subject firm are employed as marketing personnel who support
domestic engineers and an overseas production facility.
The investigation revealed that Thomas & Betts, formerly L.E.
Mason, Dedham, Massachusetts does not produce an article within the
meaning of Section 222(a)(2) of the Act. In order to be considered
eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of
the Trade Act of 1974, the worker group seeking certification (or
on whose behalf certification is being sought) must work for a
"firm" or appropriate subdivision that produces an article and
there must be a relationship between the workers' work and the
article produced by the workers' firm or appropriate subdivision.
The marketing support personnel described above do not directly
support a firm or appropriate subdivision that produces an article
domestically and thus the worker group cannot be considered import
impacted or affected by a shift in production of an article.
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 of the facts obtained in this
investigation, I determine that workers of Thomas & Betts, formerly
L.E. Mason, Dedham, Massachusetts are denied eligibility to apply
for adjustment assistance under Section 223 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 in Washington, D.C. this 13th day of September 2004.
/s/ Linda G. Poole

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