DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-59,227

THE YORK GROUP METAL CASKET ASSEMBLY
MATTHEWS CASKET DIVISION
A SUBSIDIARY MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL
MARSHFIELD, MISSOURI

Negative 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 on April 18, 2006 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at The York
Group Metal Casket Assembly, Matthews Casket Division, a
subsidiary of Matthews International, Marshfield, Missouri. The
workers are engaged in the production of metal caskets.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.A.)
and (a)(2)(B) (II.A.) have not been met.
The petitioners attribute their separation or threat of
separation to the firm's shift in production of metal caskets to
Mexico. The investigation confirmed that York Metal Casket
Assembly has shifted production to Mexico.
The investigation determined that York Metal Casket
Assembly in Marshfield, Missouri, did not separate or threaten
to separate a significant number or proportion of workers as
required by Section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974. Significant
number or proportion of the workers in a firm or appropriate
subdivision thereof, means that at least three workers with a
workforce of fewer than 50 workers or five percent of the
workers with a workforce of 50 or more.
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, I determine that all workers of York
Group Metal Casket Assembly, Matthews Casket Division, a
subsidiary of Matthews International, Marshfield, Missouri 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.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 17th day of May, 2006

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