Petitioner Type: State
Impact Date: 01/07/2014
Filed Date: 10/03/2014
Most Recent Update: 11/12/2014
Determination Date: 11/12/2014
Expiration Date: 11/12/2016
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-85,574
VERSO PAPER CORPORATION
BUCKSPORT MILL DIVISION
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM
IMERYS AND ELITE STAFFING
INCLUDING WORKERS WHOSE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (UI) WAGES
ARE REPORTED THROUGH VERSO PAPER, LLC
BUCKSPORT, MAINE
Amended 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 issued a Certification of Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance on November 12, 2014, applicable to workers of Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport Mill Division, including workers whose unemployment insurance (UI) wages are reported through Verso Paper, LLC, Bucksport, Maine.
At the request of a state workforce official, the Department reviewed the certification for workers of the subject firm. The workers were engaged in activities related to the production of coated, uncoated mechanical and specialty paper.
The company reports that workers leased from Imerys and Elite Staffing were on-site at the Bucksport, Maine location of Verso Paper Corporation. The Department has determined that these workers were sufficiently under the control of the subject firm to be considered leased workers.
Based on these findings, the Department is amending this certification to include workers leased from Imerys and Elite Staffing working on-site at the Bucksport, Maine location of Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport Mill Division.
The amended notice applicable to TA-W-85,574 is hereby issued as follows:
"All workers of Imerys and Elite Staffing, reporting to Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport Mill Division, including workers whose unemployment insurance (UI) wages are reported through Verso Paper, LLC, Bucksport, Maine, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after January 7, 2014 through November 12, 2016, 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 16th day of December, 2014.
/s/Michael W. Jaffe
__________________________________
MICHAEL W. JAFFE
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance
4510-FN-P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-85,574
VERSO PAPER CORPORATION
BUCKSPORT MILL DIVISION
INCLUDING WORKERS WHOSE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (UI) WAGES
ARE REPORTED THROUGH VERSO PAPER, LLC
BUCKSPORT, MAINE
Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade 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, or an appropriate subdivision of the firm,
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
(ii) imports of articles like or directly competitive
with articles produced by such firm or subdivision 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 or subdivision
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on October 3, 2014 by state workforce office, on behalf of
workers of Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport Mill Division,
including workers whose unemployment insurance (UI) wages are
reported through Verso Paper, LLC, Bucksport, Maine (Verso or
"subject firm").
The workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the
production of coated, uncoated mechanical and specialty paper.
Workers at this facility were previously certified to apply
for TAA benefits under Petition TA-W-80,519, which expired
January 6, 2014.
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)(A)(i) has been met because the sales and
production of articles produced by Verso have decreased
absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with the articles produced
by Verso have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased imports contributed importantly to the worker group
separations and sales and production declines at Verso.
In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 26 U.S.C. 2813, the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of its investigation regarding certification
of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance
(ATAA) for older workers.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a firm under
Section 246 (a)(3)(A)(ii) of the Trade Act are satisfied if the
following criteria are met:
(I) Whether a significant number of workers in the
workers' firm are 50 years of age or older;
(II) Whether the workers in the workers' firm possess
skills that are not easily transferable; and
(III) The competitive conditions within the workers'
industry (i.e., conditions within the industry are
adverse).
Section 246(a)(3)(A)(ii)(I) has been met because a significant
number of workers in the workers' firm are 50 years of age or
older.
Section 246(a)(3)(A)(ii)(II) has been met because the workers
in the workers' firm possess skills that are not easily
transferrable.
Finally, Section 246(a)(3)(A)(ii)(III) has been met because
conditions within the workers' industry are adverse.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Verso Paper
Corporation, Bucksport Mill Division, including workers whose
unemployment insurance (UI) wages are reported through Verso Paper,
LLC, Bucksport, Maine, who are engaged in activities related to
closeout operations, meet the worker group certification criteria
under 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 Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport Mill
Division, including workers whose unemployment insurance (UI)
wages are reported through Verso Paper, LLC, Bucksport, Maine,
who become totally or partially separated from employment on
or after October 2, 2013 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, and are also eligible to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 12th day of November, 2014.
/s/Del Min Amy Chen
______________________________
DEL MIN AMY CHEN
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-85,574
VERSO PAPER CORPORATION
BUCKSPORT MILL DIVISION
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM
IMERYS AND ELITE STAFFING
INCLUDING WORKERS WHOSE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (UI) WAGES
ARE REPORTED THROUGH VERSO PAPER, LLC
BUCKSPORT, MAINE
Amended 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 issued a Certification of Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance on November 12, 2014, applicable to workers of Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport Mill Division, including workers whose unemployment insurance (UI) wages are reported through Verso Paper, LLC, Bucksport, Maine.
At the request of a state workforce official, the Department reviewed the certification for workers of the subject firm. The workers were engaged in activities related to the production of coated, uncoated mechanical and specialty paper.
The company reports that workers leased from Imerys and Elite Staffing were on-site at the Bucksport, Maine location of Verso Paper Corporation. The Department has determined that these workers were sufficiently under the control of the subject firm to be considered leased workers.
Based on these findings, the Department is amending this certification to include workers leased from Imerys and Elite Staffing working on-site at the Bucksport, Maine location of Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport Mill Division.
The amended notice applicable to TA-W-85,574 is hereby issued as follows:
"All workers of Imerys and Elite Staffing, reporting to Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport Mill Division, including workers whose unemployment insurance (UI) wages are reported through Verso Paper, LLC, Bucksport, Maine, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after January 7, 2014 through November 12, 2016, 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 16th day of December, 2014.
/s/Michael W. Jaffe
__________________________________
MICHAEL W. JAFFE
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance
4510-FN-P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-85,574
VERSO PAPER CORPORATION
BUCKSPORT MILL DIVISION
INCLUDING WORKERS WHOSE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (UI) WAGES
ARE REPORTED THROUGH VERSO PAPER, LLC
BUCKSPORT, MAINE
Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade 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, or an appropriate subdivision of the firm,
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
(ii) imports of articles like or directly competitive
with articles produced by such firm or subdivision 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 or subdivision
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on October 3, 2014 by state workforce office, on behalf of
workers of Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport Mill Division,
including workers whose unemployment insurance (UI) wages are
reported through Verso Paper, LLC, Bucksport, Maine (Verso or
"subject firm").
The workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the
production of coated, uncoated mechanical and specialty paper.
Workers at this facility were previously certified to apply
for TAA benefits under Petition TA-W-80,519, which expired
January 6, 2014.
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)(A)(i) has been met because the sales and
production of articles produced by Verso have decreased
absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with the articles produced
by Verso have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased imports contributed importantly to the worker group
separations and sales and production declines at Verso.
In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 26 U.S.C. 2813, the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of its investigation regarding certification
of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance
(ATAA) for older workers.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a firm under
Section 246 (a)(3)(A)(ii) of the Trade Act are satisfied if the
following criteria are met:
(I) Whether a significant number of workers in the
workers' firm are 50 years of age or older;
(II) Whether the workers in the workers' firm possess
skills that are not easily transferable; and
(III) The competitive conditions within the workers'
industry (i.e., conditions within the industry are
adverse).
Section 246(a)(3)(A)(ii)(I) has been met because a significant
number of workers in the workers' firm are 50 years of age or
older.
Section 246(a)(3)(A)(ii)(II) has been met because the workers
in the workers' firm possess skills that are not easily
transferrable.
Finally, Section 246(a)(3)(A)(ii)(III) has been met because
conditions within the workers' industry are adverse.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Verso Paper
Corporation, Bucksport Mill Division, including workers whose
unemployment insurance (UI) wages are reported through Verso Paper,
LLC, Bucksport, Maine, who are engaged in activities related to
closeout operations, meet the worker group certification criteria
under 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 Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport Mill
Division, including workers whose unemployment insurance (UI)
wages are reported through Verso Paper, LLC, Bucksport, Maine,
who become totally or partially separated from employment on
or after October 2, 2013 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, and are also eligible to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 12th day of November, 2014.
/s/Del Min Amy Chen
______________________________
DEL MIN AMY CHEN
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance