DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-73,892

DESIGN WARE
A DIVISION OF AMERICAN GREETINGS
INCLUDING ON SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM ADVANCED EMPLOYMENT AND
INDUSTRIAL SECURITY SERVICES
KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN

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 April 9, 2010 by the International Teamsters, Local 7,
on behalf of workers of Design Ware, a Division of American
Greetings, Kalamazoo, Michigan (Design Ware). The workers are
engaged in activities related to the production of plastic and
paper party products. The workers are not separately identifiable
by product line. The worker group consists of on-site leased
workers from Advanced Employment and Industrial Security Services.
The investigation revealed that workers of Design Ware, who
are engaged in activities related to the production of plastic
and paper party products, meet the criteria for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number or proportion of the workers in Design Ware have become
totally or partially separated, or threatened with such
separation, during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production by Design Ware have decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with plastic and paper
party products have increased during the relevant period.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased imports by Design Ware contributed importantly to the
worker group separations and sales/production declines at the
Kalamazoo, Michigan facility.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Design Ware, a
Division of American Greetings, Kalamazoo, Michigan, who are
engaged in activities related to the production of plastic and
paper party products, 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 Design Ware, a Division of American
Greetings, including on-site leased workers from Advanced
Employment and Industrial Security Services, Kalamazoo,
Michigan, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after April 5, 2009, 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 3rd day of August, 2010.

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