DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,238

STRAITS STEEL AND WIRE COMPANY
A SUBSIDIARY OF SSW HOLDING COMPANY, INC.
LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN


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:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially separated; and

(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm have
decreased absolutely; and

(ii)(I) imports of articles or services like or directly
competitive with articles produced or services supplied by
such firm have increased; and

(iii) the increase in imports described in clause (ii)
contributed importantly to such workers' separation or
threat of separation and to the decline in the sales or
production of such firm.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on May 20, 2009 by a company official on behalf of
workers of Straits Steel and Wire Company, a subsidiary of SSW
Holding Company, Inc., Ludington, Michigan. The workers
produce wire products for appliances.
The investigation revealed that workers of Straits Steel
and Wire Company who are engaged in employment related to the
production of wire products for appliances meet the criteria
for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because at least five
percent of the workers have become separated during the
relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production of wire products by Straits Steel and Wire
Company have decreased absolutely during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because customer
imports of articles like or directly competitive with the wire
products produced by Straits Steel and Wire Company have
increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased imports of wire products for appliances by
customers of SSW Holding Company, Inc. contributed importantly
to the worker group separations and sales/production declines
at Straits Steel and Wire Company.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Straits Steel and
Wire Company, a subsidiary of SSW Holding Company, Inc.,
Ludington, Michigan, who are engaged in employment related to
production of wire products for appliances 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 Straits Steel and Wire Company, a
subsidiary of SSW Holding Company, Inc., Ludington,
Michigan, 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 the 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 20th day of October, 2009


/s/Michael W. Jaffe
______________________________
MICHAEL W. JAFFE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance