DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,961

HOLYOKE CARD COMPANY, INC.
SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS

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 (19 USC
2273), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance as an adversely affected
secondary group.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance,
the following group eligibility requirements under Section 222(b)
must be met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in the
workers' firm or an appropriate subdivision of the firm
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;

(2) the workers' firm (or subdivision) is a supplier or
downstream producer to a firm (or subdivision) that
employed a group of workers who received a certification
of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance
benefits and such supply or production is related to the
article that was the basis for such certification; and

(3) either-

(A) the workers' firm is a supplier and the component
parts it supplied for the firm (or subdivision) described
in paragraph (2) accounted for at least 20 percent of the
production or sales of the workers' firm; or

(B) a loss of business by the workers' firm with the firm
(or subdivision) described in paragraph (2) contributed
importantly to the workers' separation or threat of
separation.

The investigation was initiated on September 15, 2005 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Holyoke Card
Company, Inc., Springfield, Massachusetts. The workers produced
converted paper goods for office products.
The investigation revealed that criterion 222(b)(2) was not
met.
The investigation found that the subject firm closed in June
2005, and that a previous TAA determination had been issued for
this worker group. The petitioners filed as a primary firm and were
denied eligibility to apply for TAA under petition number TA-W-
57,368, issued on August 11, 2005. The subject firm did not shift
the production of converted paper goods for office products to a
foreign country, nor did the company or customers import converted
paper goods for office products during the relevant period.
This investigation determined that Holyoke Card does not
supply components to or finish or assemble articles for a primary
firm whose workers are certified eligible to apply for TAA during
the period of this investigation.
The petitioners indicated that the firm lost business with its
parent company (Merrimac Paper Company) whose workers were
certified eligible to apply for adjustment assistance. The
Merrimac Paper Company's workers, however, were issued a TAA
certification based on the findings that workers were qualified as
secondarily affected workers. Merrimac supplied components to a
manufacturer of converted paper products whose workers were
certified eligible to apply for TAA.
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 the
investigation, I determine that all workers Holyoke Card Company,
Inc., Springfield, Massachusetts, do not qualify as adversely
affected secondary workers and are denied eligibility to apply for
adjustment assistance under section 223(b) 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 28th day of October 2005.

/s/ Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance