DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,328

GASTON ELECTRONICS, LLC
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM AMERICAN STAFFING AND
LINCOLN STAFFING
MT. HOLLY, NORTH CAROLINA

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 the state workforce office on behalf
of workers of Gaston Electronics, LLC, Mt. Holly, North
Carolina (Gaston Electronics). The workers produce printed
circuit boards and control panels used in various electronic
products. The worker group is separately identifiable by product
line and includes on-site leased workers from American Staffing
and Lincoln Staffing. An investigation of an earlier petition
covering the same worker group was terminated on April 3, 2009
(TA-W-65,640).
The investigation revealed that workers of Gaston
Electronics who are engaged in employment related to the printed
circuit boards and control panels meet the criteria for
certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because at least 5 percent
of workers have been separated during January through April
2009 compared with the corresponding 2008 period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production of printed circuit boards and control panels by
Gaston Electronics have decreased absolutely during January
through April 2009 compared with the corresponding 2008
period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with printed circuit
boards and control panels produced by Gaston Electronics
increased during January through April 2009 compared with the
corresponding 2008 period.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased imports of articles like or directly competitive
with printed circuit boards and control panels contributed
importantly to worker group separations and sales/production
declines at Gaston Electronics.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Gaston Electronics,
LLC, including on-site leased workers from American Staffing
and Lincoln Staffing, Mt. Holly, North Carolina, who are
engaged in employment related to printed circuit boards and
control panels 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 Gaston Electronics, LLC, including on-site
leased workers from American Staffing and Lincoln
Staffing, Mt. Holly, North Carolina, 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 23rd day of September, 2009

/s/ Del Min Amy Chen
________________________________
DEL MIN AMY CHEN
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance