Petitioner Type: Company
Impact Date:
Filed Date: 12/01/2006
Most Recent Update: 01/12/2007
Determination Date: 01/12/2007
Expiration Date:
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-60,519
SUN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
FLUSH DEPARTMENT
MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN
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 December 1, 2006, in
response to a petition filed by United Auto Workers Local 2-0987
on behalf of workers of Sun Chemical Corporation, Flush
Department, Muskegon, Michigan. The workers produce yellow
flush pigments.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.C) were not met.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
import yellow flush pigments in 2004, 2005, or during the period
from January through November 2006.
The investigation also revealed that although the subject
firm did shift production of its yellow flush pigment abroad
during the relevant period, that production was not shifted to a
country that is a party to a free trade agreement with the
United States or a beneficiary country, and the articles
produced are not being imported back into this country.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customer regarding its purchases of yellow flush
pigment. That survey revealed only an insignificant amount of
customer imports of yellow flush pigment during the relevant
period.
The sales decline at the subject facility reflects both the
significant decline in sales to one domestic customer and also
the loss of sales formerly made in the export market, sales that
can no longer be attributed to the subject facility since that
production has been shifted to the subject firm's plant in
Europe.
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, I determine that all workers of Sun
Chemical Corporation, Flush Department, Muskegon, Michigan, 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 12th day of January 2007
/s/Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance