DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-71,747

QUALION CORPORATION
MINNESOTA RUBBER & PLASTICS
WATERTOWN, SOUTH DAKOTA

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 on July 21, 2009 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of Qualion Corporation, Minnesota Rubber and Plastics,
Watertown, South Dakota (Qualion Corporation). The workers
produce custom molded rubber parts for the medical,
industrial, and automobile industries.
The investigation revealed that workers of Qualion
Corporation, Minnesota Rubber and Plastics, who are engaged in
employment related to the production of custom molded rubber
parts meet the criteria for certification.
Criterion I has been met because more than 30 percent of
workers have been separated during the relevant period.
Criterion II has been satisfied because the workers' firm
has shifted to a foreign country production of articles like
or directly competitive with the articles produced by the
workers during the relevant period.
Criterion III has been met because the shift of custom
molded rubber parts to Mexico and China by Qualion
Corporation, Minnesota Rubber and Plastics contributed
importantly to worker group separations at Qualion
Corporation, Minnesota Rubber and Plastics.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Qualion Corporation,
Minnesota Rubber and Plastics, Watertown, South Dakota who are
engaged in employment related to the production of custom,
molded, rubber parts 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 Qualion Corporation, Minnesota Rubber and
Plastics, Watertown, South Dakota, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after July 20,
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 18th day of August, 2009


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