DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-90,212

VERSO CORPORATION
ANDROSCOGGIN MILL
INCLUDING WORKERS WHOSE WAGES WERE REPORTED THROUGH VERSO
PAPER, LLC
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM ELITE STAFFING
JAY, MAINE

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 September 3, 2015 by the state workforce office on
behalf of workers of Verso Corporation, Androscoggin Mill
division, Jay, Maine (herein known as "Verso" or "workers'
firm"). The workers' firm includes workers whose wages were
reported through Verso Paper, LLC and on-site leased workers
from Elite Staffing.
The workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the
production of coated mechanical paper for catalogs, magazines,
retail inserts, direct mail, and general commercial printing
applications.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers' firm and the firm's major declining
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/or production of coated mechanical paper for catalogs,
magazines, retail inserts, direct mail, and general commercial
printing applications by Verso have decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because customer
imports of articles like or directly competitive with the
articles produced by Verso increased in reliance.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased reliance on customer imports contributed importantly
to the worker group separations and sales/production declines
at Verso.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Verso Corporation,
Androscoggin Mill division, including workers whose wages were
reported through Verso Paper, LLC, including on-site leased
workers from Elite Staffing, Jay, Maine, who are engaged in
activities related to the production of coated mechanical paper
for catalogs, magazines, retail inserts, direct mail, and
general commercial printing applications 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 Verso Corporation, Androscoggin Mill
division, including workers whose wages were reported
through Verso Paper, LLC, including on-site leased
workers from Elite Staffing, Jay, Maine, who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after
January 1, 2014, 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 5th day of November 2015.

/s/Hope D. Kinglock
______________________________
HOPE D. KINGLOCK
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance