DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-64,206

HUTCHINSON FTS INC.
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS OF MANPOWER
READING, MICHIGAN

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), the Department of Labor herein presents the results
of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility to
apply for worker adjustment assistance.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment
Assistance, the group eligibility requirements in either
paragraph (a)(2)(A) or (a)(2)(B) of Section 222 of the Trade Act
must be met. It is determined in this case that the requirements
of (a) (2) (A) of Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiated on October 10, 2008 in
response to a petition filed by a Michigan State Agency
Representative on behalf of workers at Hutchinson FTS Inc.,
Reading, Michigan. The workers of the subject firm produce
aluminum tubing sent to an affiliate for assembly into fluid
transfer systems.
The investigation revealed that employment and sales at the
Reading facility declined in January through September 2008
compared with the same period of the previous year.
The subject workers at the Reading plant produced component
parts for Hutchinson FTS Inc., Quincy, Michigan. Workers at that
affiliate were certified eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance on September 20, 2007 (TA-W-61,836). Production at
the Reading plant forms part of an integrated production process
with the fluid transfer system plant in Quincy, and thus workers
at the Reading plant are also adversely affected by the loss of
business due to imports experienced by the Quincy affiliate.
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 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 do not possess skills that are easily
transferable. Competitive conditions within the industry are
adverse.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with fluid transfer systems
produced by Hutchinson FTS Inc., Reading, Michigan, contributed
importantly to the decline in employment and sales at that firm
or subdivision. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I
make the following certification:
"All workers of Hutchinson FTS Inc., Reading, Michigan,
including on-site leased workers of Manpower at Hutchinson
FTS Inc., Quincy, Michigan, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after October 9, 2007,
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 in Washington, D.C., this 26th day of November, 2008


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