DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-60,507

WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK
FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA

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 investigation was initiated on November 29, 2006, in
response to a petition filed by workers of Washington Mutual Bank,
Florence, South Carolina. Workers at the subject firm provide loan
services for home mortgages.
The investigation revealed that Washington Mutual Bank,
Florence, South Carolina, does not produce an article within the
meaning of Section 222(a) (2) of the Act. In order to be
considered eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under
Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, the worker group seeking
certification (or on whose behalf certification is being sought)
must work for a "firm" or appropriate subdivision that produces an
article and there must be a relationship between the workers' work
and the article produced by the workers' firm or appropriate
subdivision. The workers do not support a firm or appropriate
subdivision that produces an article domestically and thus the
worker group cannot be considered import impacted or affected by a
shift in production of an article.
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 the
investigation, I determine that all workers of Washington Mutual
Bank, Florence, South Carolina 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 20th day of December 2006



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