DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-91,095

WESTROCK SP COMPANY
PAPER SOLUTIONS DIVISION
A SUBSIDIARY OF WESTROCK COMPANIES
NEWBERG, OREGON

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 November 2, 2015 by the Association of Western Pulp &
Paper Workers (AWPPW) on behalf of workers of WestRock SP
Company, Paper Solutions Division, a subsidiary of WestRock
Companies, Newberg, Oregon (WestRock SP Company). The workers’
firm is engaged in activities related to the production of
newsprint paper for the newspaper industry and brown paper for
the box business. The subject worker group does not include on-
site leased workers.
The petition, dated October 30, 2015, alleges that
increased imports from Canada, China and other countries, of
paper products contributed to worker separations at the Newberg,
Oregon facility. The petition included additional information
and supporting documents.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers’ firm, the subject firm’s major
declining customers, and other federal agencies regarding
newsprint paper and brown paper.
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 newsprint paper and brown paper produced
by WestRock SP Company have decreased.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with the newsprint paper
and/or brown paper produced by WestRock SP Company have
increased (either absolutely or relative to domestic
production) during the twelve month period prior to the
petition date when compared to the preceding representative
base period.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased imports of like or directly competitive articles
contributed importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at WestRock SP Company.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of WestRock SP Company,
Paper Solutions Division, Newberg, Oregon, who are engaged in
activities related to the production of newsprint paper and
brown paper, 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 WestRock SP Company, Paper Solutions
Division, a subsidiary of WestRock Companies, Newberg,
Oregon, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after October 30, 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 4th day of March, 2016

/s/Del Min Amy Chen
______________________________
DEL MIN AMY CHEN
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance