DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-59,449

TECHNICAL ASSOCIATES
LEASED WORKERS AT THE R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
MACON, GEORGIA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply For Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility To Apply For
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 its 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)(A) of
Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiated 7in response to a petition
received on November 30, 2005 and filed by a company official on
behalf of leased workers of Technical Associates employed at the
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Macon, Georgia. The workers are
engaged in support activities (computer programming and analysis)
related to the production of cigarettes.
The workers for the subject firm worked in support of
production at the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Macon, Georgia,
for which there is an existing certification: TA-W-58,432, signed
December 19, 2005. That certification was based on an increase of
customer imports of articles like and directly competitive with
those produced by the subject firm.
The subject workers are currently under an existing
certification which will expire on June 23, 2006 (TA-W-54,758).
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).

The Department has determined that criterion 1 has not been
met.
The investigation revealed that none of the impacted workers
are age 50 or older.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that an increase in imports of articles
like or directly competitive with cigarettes produced by the R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company, Macon, Georgia, 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:
"All workers of Technical Associates, leased workers employed
at the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Macon, Georgia, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after June 24, 2006, 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 Technical Associates,
leased workers employed at the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company,
Macon, Georgia, are denied eligibility to apply for alternative
trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of
1974.

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 22nd day of June, 2006.


/s/Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance