DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-61,366

STAPLES, INC.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIVISION
MARLBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS

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 April 24, 2007 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Staples,
Inc., Information Systems Division, Marlborough, Massachusetts.
Workers in the division are engaged in technical support and
call center services. They provide technical support (primarily
by phone), including help desk activities, network and systems
administration, and documenting internal customer calls.
The investigation revealed that Staples, Inc., Information
Systems Division, Marlborough, Massachusetts, 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
technical support and call center workers described above 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 Staples, Inc.,
Information Systems Division, Marlborough, Massachusetts, 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 4th day of May 2007


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