DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-59,945

SHEAFFER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
A SUBDIVISION OF BIC CORPORATION
FORT MADISON, IOWA

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 August 23, 2006 in response
to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers of
Sheaffer Manufacturing Company, LLC, A subdivision of Bic
Corporation, Fort Madison, Iowa. Workers at the subject facility
assemble and ship writing instruments.
This worker group was previously certified eligible to apply
for adjustment assistance under petition number TA-W-55,448, that
expired September 23, 2006. There are remaining workers that are to
be employed and subsequently separated after the expiry of this
certification and towards the shutdown of the facility in May 2008.
The investigation revealed that the subject facility also
leased workers from Adecco.
The investigation also revealed that the preponderance of
declines in employment at the subject facility is related to a
shift in production of writing instruments to the Czech Republic,
Germany and China. The subject firm has increased imports from
these facilities located overseas. The subject facility is
scheduled to be shutdown by May 2008.
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 possess skills that are not easily transferable. Competitive
conditions within the industry are adverse.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that there was a shift in production
from the workers firm or subdivision to the Czech Republic, Germany
and China of articles that are like or directly competitive with
those produced by the subject firm or subdivision, and there has
been or is likely to be an increase in imports of like or directly
competitive articles. In accordance with the provisions of the Act,
I make the following certification:
"All workers of Sheaffer Manufacturing Company, LLC, A
subdivision of Bic Corporation, Fort Madison, Iowa, who became
totally separated from employment on September 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 are also eligible to apply for
alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of
the Trade Act of 1974."
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 25th day of September 2006

/s/Linda G. Poole

LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance