DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,887

PARLEX CORPORATION
MULTI-LAYER BUSINESS UNIT DIVISION
METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS

TA-W-57,887A

PARLEX CORPORATION
CORPORATE SALES, GENERAL AND
ADMINISTRATION SUBDIVISION
METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS

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 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 in response to a petition
received on September 2, 2005, and filed by a company official on
behalf of workers of Parlex Corporation, Multi-layer Business Unit
Division, Methuen, Massachusetts and Parlex Corporation, Corporate
Sales, General and Administration Subdivision, Methuen,
Massachusetts. Workers of the Multi-layer Business Unit Division
(TA-W-57,887) produce of flexible printed circuits. Workers of the
Corporate Sales, General and Administration Subdivision (TA-W-
57,887A) provide administrative and support services related to all
production by Parlex Corporation.
The investigation determined that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) have not been met for workers of Parlex
Corporation, Multi-layer Business Unit Division, Methuen,
Massachusetts (TA-W-57,887).
The investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
import flexible printed circuits, nor did it shift production of
flexible printed circuits abroad in 2003, 2004 or January through
August 2005.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of flexible printed
circuits in 2003, 2004, and January through August 2005. The
survey revealed that customers did not purchase imports of flexible
printed circuits during the relevant period.
It is further determined that the requirements of (a)(2)(B) of
Section 222 have been met for workers of Parlex Corporation,
Corporate Sales, General and Administration Subdivision, Methuen,
Massachusetts (TA-W-57,887A).
The investigation revealed that the Corporate Sales, General
and Administration Subdivision of Parlex Corporation is in part
supporting the firm's production of laminated cable.
Employment declines in Parlex Corporation, Corporate Sales,
General and Administration Subdivision, Methuen, Massachusetts, are
related to a shift in production of laminated cable to a country
(Mexico) that is a party to a free trade agreement with 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.
The group eligibility criteria for the ATAA program that the
Department must consider under Section 246 of the Trade Act are:
1. Whether a significant number of workers in the
workers' firm are 50 years of age or older.

2. Whether the workers in the workers' firm possess skills
that are not easily transferable.

3. The competitive conditions within the workers' industry
(i.e., conditions within the industry are adverse).

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 producing flexible printed circuits at Parlex Corporation,
Multi-layer Business Unit Division, Methuen, Massachusetts (TA-W-
57,887), are denied eligibility to apply for TAA, the workers
cannot be certified eligible for ATAA.
The Department has further determined that criterion 2 has not
been met for workers of Parlex Corporation, Corporate Sales,
General and Administration Subdivision, Methuen, Massachusetts
(TA-W-57,887A).
The investigation revealed that the workers in the firm's
Corporate Sales, General and Administration Subdivision in Methuen,
Massachusetts possess skills that are easily transferable in the
local area.



Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Parlex Corporation,
Multi-layer Business Unit Division, Methuen, Massachusetts, engaged
in employment related to the production of flexible printed
circuits 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.
I determine that there has been a shift in production from the
workers' firm or subdivision to Mexico of articles that are like or
directly competitive with the laminated cable produced by the
subject firm or subdivision. In accordance with the provisions of
the Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Parlex Corporation, Corporate Sales, General
and Administration Subdivision, Methuen, Massachusetts, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after September 2, 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


I further determine that all workers of Parlex Corporation,
Corporate Sales, General and Administration Subdivision, Methuen,
Massachusetts, are denied eligibility to apply for alternative
trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of
1974.
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 1st day of November 2005

/s/Linda G. Poole

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