DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,279

GUARDSMARK, LLC
WORKING ON-SITE AT R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
MACON, GEORGIA


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), as amended, 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)(A) of
Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiated on June 1, 2005 in response to
a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers of
Guardsmark, LLC, working on-site at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company,
Macon, Georgia. The workers were security officers at R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company.
The investigation revealed that workers of Guardsmark, LLC,
Macon, Georgia, were contracted to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company,
Macon, Georgia, to provide security officers. Employment of the
Guardsmark, LLC workers working on-site at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company, Macon, Georgia declined during the period under
investigation.
The investigation further revealed that workers of R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company, Macon, Georgia were certified eligible to
apply for trade adjustment assistance under petition number TA-W-
53,665, which expires on January 7, 2006.
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 with those produced by R.J. Reynolds
Tobacco Company, Macon, Georgia, 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:
"Workers employed by Guardsmark, LLC, working on-site at R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company, Macon, Georgia, who became totally
or partially separated from employment on or after May 24,
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 7th day of July 2005.

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance