DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-64,876

BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS TIRE OPERATIONS, LLC
BATO DIVISION
A SUBSIDIARY OF BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS, INC.
LAVERGNE, TENNESSEE

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 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 January 13, 2009, in
response to a petition filed by the TN American Federation of Labor
and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Technical
Assistance on behalf of workers of Bridgestone Americas Tire
Operations, LLC, BATO division, a subsidiary of Bridgestone
Americas, Inc., LaVergne, Tennessee. The workers produce truck bus
steel radial tires and passenger and light truck passenger steel
radial tires.
The investigation revealed that employment and sales at the
subject firm declined during the full year period of 2008 compared
with the corresponding period of 2007.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm increased
reliance on imports of truck bus steel radial tires and passenger
and light truck passenger steel radial tires during the period
under investigation.
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 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 increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with truck bus steel radial tires and
passenger and light truck passenger steel radial tires produced at
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC, BATO division, a
subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., LaVergne, Tennessee,
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:
"All workers of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC,
BATO division, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, Inc.,
LaVergne, Tennessee, who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after January 12, 2008, 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 18th day of February 2009


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