DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-60,895

GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
ALSO KNOWN AS GBC VELOBIND
VELOBIND PLASTICS DIVISION
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WISCONSIN

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 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 February 7, 2007 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of General
Binding Corporation, also known as GBC Velobind, Velobind Plastics
Division, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Workers at the subject firm
manufacture plastic extrusion filament and sheets, injection
molding binding supplies and visual aids, and thermoforming.
Workers are separately identifiable by product.
In regard to workers at the subject firm engaged in the
production of plastic extrusion filament and sheets and injection
molding binding supplies and visual aids, it is determined that the
requirements of (a)(2)(A) of section 222 are met.
Employment related to the production of plastic extrusion
filament and sheets, and injection molding binding supplies and
visual aids declined in January 2007 when compared to January 2006.
Sales and production of plastic extrusion filament and sheets,
and injection molding binding supplies and visual aids declined
from 2005 to 2006.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm increased
imports of plastic extrusion filament and sheets, and injection
molding binding supplies and visual aids during the relevant
period.
In regard to workers producing thermoforming, the
investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) have not been met.
The investigation revealed that a worker producing
thermoforming at the subject firm was separated when that work was
outsourced domestically.
The subject firm did not import thermoforming in 2005, 2006,
or January 2007, nor did it shift production to a foreign country.
The Department conducted a survey of the subject firm major
declining customer regarding its purchasing of thermoforming
packaging in 2005, 2006 and January 2007. The surveyed customer
reported no imports during the relevant time period.
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 2 has not been
met for workers of General Binding Corporation, also known as GBC
Velobind, Velobind Plastics Division, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin,
producing plastic extrusion filament and sheets and injection
molding binding supplies and visual aids.
The workers possess skills that are easily transferable to
other positions in the local area.
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 of General Binding Corporation, also known as GBC
Velobind, Velobind Plastics Division, Pleasant Prairie,
Wisconsin, producing thermoforming 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 increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with plastic extrusion filament and
sheets, injection molding binding supplies and visual aids,
produced by General Binding Corporation, also known as GBC
Veloblind, Velobind Plastics Division, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin,
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:
"Workers of General Binding Corporation, also known as GBC
Velobind, Velobind Plastics Division, Pleasant Prairie,
Wisconsin, engaged in employment related to the production of
plastic extrusion filament and sheets, injection molding
binding supplies and visual aids, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after January 30,
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."
I further determine that workers of General Binding
Corporation, also known as GBC Velobind, Velobind Plastics
Division, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, engaged in employment
related to the production of thermoforming, are denied eligibility
to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade
Act of 1974.



I further determine that workers of General Binding
Corporation, also known as GBC Velobind, Velobind Plastics
Division, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, engaged in employment
related to the production of plastic extrusion filament and sheets,
injection molding binding supplies and visual aids, and
thermoforming, 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 29th day of March 2007


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