DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-81,566

EUROPEAN TOUCH
NOW KNOWN AS E TOUCH HOLDING COMPANY
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM ARGUS TECHNICAL
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

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 May 3, 2012 by a one-stop operator/partner on behalf of
workers of European Touch, now known as E Touch Holding Company,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (European Touch). The workers’ firm is
engaged in activities related to the production of pedicure spas.
The subject worker group includes on-site leased workers from
Argus Technical.
During the course of the investigation, new information
shows that in December, 2011, E Touch Holding Company purchased
European Touch and is now known as E Touch Holding Company. Some
workers separated from employment at European Touch had their
wages reported under a separate unemployment insurance (UI) tax
accounts for European Touch, now known as E Touch Holding
Company.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers’ firm and the firm’s customers.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because 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.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales and
production of pedicure spas by European Touch have decreased.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because customer
reliance on imports of articles like or directly competitive with
the article produced by European Touch have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased customer reliance on imports of pedicure spas
contributed importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at European Touch.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of European Touch, now
known as E Touch Holding Company, including on-site leased
workers from Argus Technical, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who are
engaged in activities related to the production of pedicure spas
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 European Touch, now known as E Touch Holding
Company, including on-site leased workers from Argus
Technical, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after May 1, 2011
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 9th day of July, 2012.

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