Petitioner Type: Workers
Impact Date:
Filed Date: 05/13/2005
Most Recent Update: 07/01/2005
Determination Date: 07/01/2005
Expiration Date:
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-57,171
FOCUS: HOPE
MANUFACTURING DIVISION
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Negative Determinations Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance
And Alternati1ve 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 13, 2005, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Focus:
Hope, Manufacturing Division, Detroit, Michigan. The
workers are engaged in the production of pulleys, brackets,
water crossovers, water pumps, intake manifolds and
miscellaneous parts for the automobile industry.
The investigation determined that criteria
(a)(2)(A)(I.C.) and (a)(2)(B)(II.B.) have not been met.
The investigation revealed that sales and employment
declined from 2003 to 2004 and during January through April
2005 over the corresponding 2004 period.
The subject firm did not purchase imports of pulleys,
brackets, water crossovers, water pumps, intake manifolds
and miscellaneous parts.
The subject firm did not shift production of articles
like or directly competitive with those produced at the
Detroit plant to a foreign country.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's
major declining customers regarding their purchases of
pulleys, brackets, water crossovers, water pumps, intake
manifolds and miscellaneous parts during 2003, 2004 and
January through April 2005. The survey determined that
none of the customers purchased imports of these articles
during the relevant period.
The Department also conducted a survey of the firms to
which Focus:Hope submitted bids for projects during
relevant period. The bids were awarded to domestic
manufacturers with none of the production to take place
outside of the United States.
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 Focus:Hope,
Manufacturing Division, Detroit, Michigan, 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 1st day of July, 2005.
/s/ Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance