DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-85,916

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, LLC
ARTWORK PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM AFFINITY EXPRESS, INC.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

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)(B)(i) there has been a shift in production by such
workers' firm or subdivision to a foreign country of
articles like or directly competitive with articles
which are produced by such firm or subdivision; and
(ii)(I) the country to which the workers' firm has
shifted production of the articles is a party to a free
trade agreement with the United States;
(II) the country to which the workers' firm has
shifted production of the articles is a beneficiary
under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or the
Caribbean Basin Economic Act; or
(III) there has been or is likely to be an
increase in imports of articles that are like or
directly competitive with articles which are or were
produced by such firm or subdivision

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on April 1, 2015 by a State Workforce Office on behalf of
workers of St. Louis Post Dispatch, LLC, Artwork Production
Department, St. Louis, Missouri. The workers' firm is engaged
in activities related to the production of newspapers. The
worker group produces artwork for advertisements. The worker
group includes on-site leased workers from Affinity Express,
Inc.
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 employment
decline is related to the shift in production to a foreign
country and there has been or is likely to be an increase in
imports of articles that are like or directly competitive with
articles which are or were produced by such firm or subdivision.
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 St. Louis Post
Dispatch, LLC, Artwork Production Department, including on-site
leased workers from Affinity Express, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri,
who are engaged in activities related to the production of
artwork for advertisements, 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 St. Louis Post Dispatch, LLC, Artwork
Production Department, including on-site leased workers
from Affinity Express, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after March 30, 2014 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 9th day of June, 2015.
/s/Michael W. Jaffe
______________________________
MICHAEL W. JAFFE
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance