Petitioner Type: Company
Impact Date: 12/05/2004
Filed Date: 12/21/2005
Most Recent Update: 01/10/2006
Determination Date: 01/10/2006
Expiration Date: 01/10/2008
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-58,530
FISKARS BRANDS, INC.
SOC-WAUSAU DIVISION
WAUSAU, WISCONSIN
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, 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.
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)(B) of Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiated on December 21, 2005, in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of Fiskars Brands, Inc., SOC-Wausau Division, Wausau,
Wisconsin. The workers at the subject firm produce school and
office supplies (i.e. scissors, school tools, rulers, rotary,
punches, paper-corner edgers, paper trimmers, paper, books,
embossing/shapecutting and craft/mixed sets).
The current petition investigation revealed that employment
and sales declined from 2003 to 2004 and January through
November 2005 over the corresponding 2004 period.
The investigation also revealed that the company imports
accounted for an increasing share of sales from January through
November 2005 over the corresponding 2004 period.
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 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 do not possess skills that are 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 school and office supplies
produced by Fiskars Brands, Inc., SOC-Wausau Division, Wausau,
Wisconsin, contributed importantly to the total or partial
separation of workers and to the decline in sales or production
at that firm or subdivision. In accordance with the provisions
of the Act, I make the following certification:
"Workers of Fiskars Brands, Inc., SOC-Wausau Division,
Wausau, Wisconsin who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after December 5, 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 10th day of January, 2006.
/s/ Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance