DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,645

B.A. BALLOU AND CO., INC.
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM SKILL MASTER
EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND


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. See 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 28, 2009 on behalf of workers B.A. Ballou and Co.,
Inc., East Providence, Rhode Island (B.A. Ballou and Co.).
The workers are engaged in activities related to the production
of jewelry findings such as safety catches, rivets, and ear
backs. The workers are not separately identifiable by product.
The investigation revealed that the worker group includes on-
site leased workers from Skill Master.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm was
previously certified for Trade Adjustment Assistance under TA-W-
59,851. That certification expired on September 14, 2008.
The investigation revealed that workers of B.A. Ballou and
Co., Inc., including on-site leased workers from Skill Master,
East Providence, Rhode Island, who are engaged in activities
related to the production of jewelry findings meet the criteria
for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number or proportion of the workers in the workers' firm have
become totally or partially separated during the relevant
period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production of jewelry findings decreased during the
relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles or services like or directly competitive with the
jewelry findings produced at the subject firm have increased.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because the
increased imports contributed importantly to the worker group
separations and declines in sales and production at B.A.
Ballou and Co., Inc.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of B.A. Ballou and Co.,
Inc., including on-site leased workers from Skill Master, East
Providence, Rhode Island, who are engaged in activities related
to production of jewelry findings, 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 B.A. Ballou and Co., Inc., including on-
site leased workers from Skill Master, East Providence,
Rhode Island, who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after September 15, 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 24th day of November 2009


/s/Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance