DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,164

EPSON PORTLAND, INC.
A SUBSIDIARY OF SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
INCLUDING ON SITE PRODUCTION WORKERS OF VOLT SERVICES
HILLSBORO, OREGON

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, 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 May 12, 2005 in response
to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Epson Portland,
Inc., a subsidiary of Seiko Epson Corporation, Hillsboro,
Portland. The workers produce ink cartridges which are exported
to an affiliate abroad. The subject firm leased some on-site
production workers from Volt Services.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.A) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.A) have not been met.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
separate, and does not plan to separate, a significant number or
proportion of workers during the relevant time frame as required
by Section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974. A significant number
or proportion of the workers in a firm, or appropriate
subdivision thereof, means five percent of the workers in a
workforce of over 50 workers. Separations by the subject firm
did not reach this level.
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 of Epson
Portland, Inc., a subsidiary of Seiko Epson Corporation,
including leased on-site production workers from Volt Services,
Hillsboro, Oregon 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 226, as amended.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 26th day of May, 2005

/s/ Richard Church
______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance