Certified
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TAW-70017  /  Century Aluminum of West Virginia, Inc. (Ravenswood, WV)

Petitioner Type: Union
Impact Date: 05/18/2008
Filed Date: 05/18/2009
Most Recent Update: 06/19/2009
Determination Date: 06/19/2009
Expiration Date: 06/19/2011

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,017

CENTURY ALUMINUM OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.
REDUCTION ALUMINUM SMELTER DIVISION
RAVENSWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor
herein presents the results of an investigation regarding
certification of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment
assistance.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a firm
under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are
satisfied if the following criteria are met:
I. The first criterion (set forth in Section 222(a)(1) of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a)(1)) requires that a significant
number or proportion of the workers in the workers' firm
must have become totally or partially separated or be
threatened with total or partial separation.

II. The second criterion (set forth in Section 222(a)(2) of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a)(2)) may be satisfied if either:

(i)(I) there has been a shift by the workers' firm to a
foreign country in the production of articles or
supply of services like or directly competitive with
those produced/supplied by the workers' firm; OR
(i)(II) there has been an acquisition from a foreign
country by the workers' firm of articles/services that
are like or directly competitive with those
produced/supplied by the workers' firm.

III. The third criterion requires that the shift/acquisition
must have contributed importantly to the workers'
separation or threat of separation. (Set forth in Section
222(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. §
2272(a)(2)(B)(ii)).

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on May 18, 2009 by the United Steel Workers of America,
Local 5668, on behalf of workers of Century Aluminum of West
Virginia, Inc., Reduction Aluminum Smelter Division, Ravenswood,
West Virginia. The workers produced primary aluminum. The
petitioning union alleges that a shift in production to Iceland
has led to a decline in domestic production and worker
separations.
The investigation revealed that workers of Century Aluminum
of West Virginia, Inc., who are engaged in employment related
to the production of primary aluminum, meet the criteria for
certification.
Criterion I has been met because there has been an
absolute decline in employment, as the facility was shut down.
Criterion II has been satisfied because the workers' firm
has shifted production of primary aluminum to Iceland.
Criterion III has been met because the shift of primary
aluminum to Iceland by Century Aluminum, contributed
importantly to worker group separations at Century Aluminum of
West Virginia, Inc., Reduction Aluminum Smelter Division,
Ravenswood, West Virginia.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Century Aluminum of
West Virginia, Inc., Reduction Aluminum Smelter Division,
Ravenswood, West Virginia, who are engaged in employment related
to the production of primary aluminum meet the worker group
certification criteria under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19
U.S.C. § 2272(a). In accordance with Section 223 of the Act, 19
U.S.C. § 2273, I make the following certification:















"All workers of Century Aluminum of West Virginia, Inc.,
Reduction Aluminum Smelter Division, Ravenswood, West
Virginia, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after May 18, 2008, through two years from
the date of certification, and all workers in the group
threatened with total or partial separation from employment
on date of certification through two years from the date of
certification, are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 19th day of June, 2009


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