DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,936

ITW ARK-LES CONNECTOR BU
A SUBSIDIARY OF ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS

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 June 3, 2009, on behalf of workers of ITW Ark-Les
Connector BU, a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc.,
Stoughton, Massachusetts. The workers are engaged in employment
related to the production of metal stampings for the appliance
market.
The investigation revealed that workers of ITW Ark-Les
Connector BU, who are engaged in activities related to the
production of metal stampings, meet the criteria for
certification.
Criterion I has been met because a significant proportion
of workers at ITW Ark-Les Connector BU have become separated
during the relevant period.
Criterion II has been met because there has been a shift by
ITW Ark-Les Connector BU to a foreign country in the production
of articles like or directly competitive with those produced by
the workers' firm.
Criterion III has been met because the shift in production
to Mexico and China contributed importantly to worker group
separations at the Stoughton, Massachusetts facility.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of ITW Ark-Les Connector
BU, a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc., Stoughton,
Massachusetts, who are engaged in activities related to
production of metal stampings, 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 ITW Ark-Les Connector BU, a subsidiary of
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Stoughton, Massachusetts, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after June 1, 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 30th day of December, 2009


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