DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,329

GI TECH GROUP, LLC
D/B/A TECH GROUP INDUSTRIES
VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS

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(c) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(c), can be
satisfied if the following criteria are met:
I. a significant number or proportion of the workers in
the workers' firm or an appropriate subdivision of the
firm have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially
separated;

II. the workers' firm is a Supplier or Downstream Producer
to a firm that employed a group of workers who
received a certification of eligibility under Section
222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), and such
supply or production is related to the article or
service that was the basis for such certification; and

III. either
(A) the workers' firm is a supplier and the component
parts it supplied to the firm described in paragraph
(2) accounted for at least 20 percent of the
production or sales of the workers' firm; or
(B) a loss of business by the workers' firm with the firm
described in paragraph (2) contributed importantly to
the workers' separation or threat of separation.

Section 222(d) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(d), defines the
term "Supplier" as "a firm that produces and supplies directly
to another firm component parts for articles, or services used
in the production of articles or in the supply of services, as
the case may be, that were the basis for a certification of
eligibility under subsection (a) [of Section 222 of the Act] of
a group of workers employed by such other firm."
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on May 20, 2009 by a state agency representative on
behalf of workers of GI Tech Group, LLC, dba Tech Group
Industries, Van Buren, Arkansas. The workers produce sub-
assemblies for shelves and refrigerator ice crushing machine
motors. The petitioner and company official allege that worker
separations have been prompted by the firm's sole customer
moving a portion of their production to Mexico.
The investigation revealed that workers of GI Tech Group,
LLC, dba Tech Group Industries, Van Buren, Arkansas who are
engaged in employment related to sub-assemblies meet the
criteria as Suppliers for secondary worker certification.
Criterion I has been met because a significant number or
proportion of workers at the firm have been separated during
the period of January through April 2009 when compared to the
same time period in 2008.
Criterion II has been satisfied because workers of GI
Tech Group, LLC, dba Tech Group Industries, Van Buren,
Arkansas produced and sold sub-assemblies to Whirlpool
Corporation to be incorporated into shelves and refrigerator
ice crushing machine motors. Workers of Whirlpool Corporation
are covered by certification number TA-W-64,085 issued based
on a shift in production of side by side refrigerators to
Mexico.
Criterion III has been met because the sub-assemblies
produced by GI Tech Group, LLC, dba Tech Group Industries, Van
Buren, Arkansas for Whirlpool Corporation accounted for at
least 20 percent of the production or sales of GI Tech Group,
LLC, dba Tech Group Industries, Van Buren, Arkansas.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of GI Tech Group, LLC,
dba Tech Group Industries, Van Buren, Arkansas, who are engaged
in employment related to sub-assemblies 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 GI Tech Group, LLC, dba Tech Group
Industries, Van Buren, Arkansas, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after May 19,
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 24th day of August, 2009.

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