DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-62,563

GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM EAST-WEST STAFFING
OAKDALE, CALIFORNIA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 USC
2273), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the results
of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for
worker adjustment assistance as a secondarily affected worker group.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility for secondary workers to apply for Trade
Adjustment Assistance, the group eligibility requirements of paragraph
(b) of Section 222 of the Trade Act, as amended, must be met. It is
determined in this case that the requirements of (b) of Section 222, as
amended, have been met.
The investigation was initiated on December 12, 2007 in response
to a petition filed by a One Stop Operator on behalf of workers of
Graham Packaging Company, L.P., Oakdale, California. The workers
produced packaging containers, specifically plastic bottles for
chocolate syrup.
The investigation revealed that Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
supplied component parts considered an integral part of the final
product, chocolate confectionary products, and at least 20 percent of
its sales or production is supplied to a manufacturer of chocolate
confectionary products whose workers were certified eligible to apply
for adjustment assistance in the relevant period.
In addition, in order for the Department to issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for ATAA, the group eligibility
requirements of Section 246 of the Trade Act must be met. The
Department has determined in this case that the requirements of
Section 246 have been met.
A significant number of workers at the firm are age 50 or over
and possess skills that are not easily transferable. Competitive
conditions within the industry are adverse.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investigation, I
determine that workers of Graham Packaging Company, L.P., Oakdale,
California, qualify as adversely affected secondary workers under
Section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. In accordance with
the provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:


"All workers of Graham Packaging Company, L.P., including leased
workers from East-West Staffing, Oakdale, California who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after
December 11, 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 and are also eligible to apply for
alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the
Trade Act of 1974."
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 15th day of January 2008


/s/Richard Church
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RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance