DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-62,478

OPTION ONE MORTGAGE CORP.
A SUBSIDIARY OF H&R BLOCK
EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

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 19, 2007 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Option One
Mortgage Corp., a subsidiary of H&R Block, East Providence,
Rhode Island. The subject workers were engaged in account
management, loan underwriting, and documentation services
related to approving and preparing loan agreements.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm 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
subject workers did not support a firm or appropriate
subdivision that produces an article domestically and thus the
workers cannot be considered import impacted or affected by a
shift in production of an article.
The subject workers are engaged in services that result in
the approval and granting of loans. Loan agreement documents
produced as a result of these services are considered incidental
to the service and do not represent 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 Option One
Mortgage Corp., a subsidiary of H&R Block, East Providence,
Rhode Island, 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 29th day of November 2007


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