Petitioner Type: Company
Impact Date:
Filed Date: 01/06/2006
Most Recent Update: 01/26/2006
Determination Date: 01/26/2006
Expiration Date:
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-58,592
STRATCOR, INC.
A SUBSIDIARY OF STRATEGIC MINERALS CORPORATION
NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK
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, 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
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 January 6, 2006 in response
to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers at
Stratcor, Inc., a subsidiary of Strategic Minerals Corporation,
Niagara Falls, New York. The workers at the subject firm produce
vanadium halides (e.g.- VOCI3, VOCI4, and VOCI3 + TiCI4 blends).
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) were not met.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
import vanadium halides, nor did it shift production to a foreign
country during 2004 or 2005.
The investigation also revealed that the subject plant
recently shifted production to another domestic firm location due
to high production costs. The shift in production contributed to
the layoffs at the subject plant. Any fluctuations in sales and
production during the relevant period are the result of inventory
reduction. The company indicated that there were no declining
customers during the relevant period.
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 all workers of Stratcor, Inc., a
subsidiary of Strategic Minerals Corporation, Niagara Falls, New
York, are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance
under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and alternative trade
adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 26th day of January 2006
/s/Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance