DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-82,097

THOLSTRUP CHEESE USA INC.
NORTON SHORES, 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 by workers on October 22, 2012 on behalf of workers of
Tholstrup Cheese USA Inc., Norton Shores, Michigan. The
worker group is engaged in activities related to the
production of soft and semi soft natural cheese.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers' firm.
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)(B) has been met because the workers'
firm has shifted to a foreign country the production of
articles like or directly competitive with the soft and semi
soft natural cheese produced by the workers which contributed
importantly to worker group separations at Tholstrup Cheese
USA Inc., Norton Shores, Michigan.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Tholstrup Cheese
USA Inc., Norton Shores, Michigan, who are engaged in
activities related to production of soft and semi soft natural
cheese, 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 Tholstrup Cheese USA Inc., Norton Shores,
Michigan, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after October 18, 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 6th day of November, 2012.


/s/Michael A. Jaffe
______________________________
MICHAEL A. JAFFE
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance