DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-91,659

WHITING PAPER COMPANY
MENASHA, WISCONSIN


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 April 4, 2016 by The United Steel, Paper and Forestry,
Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service
Workers International Union (USW), Local 465, on behalf of
workers of Whiting Paper Company, Menasha, Wisconsin (Whiting
Paper Company). The workers' firm is engaged in activities
related to the production and conversion of specialty colored
papers for the matboard facing, art paper, scrapbooking and
decorative packaging market (specialty colored papers). The
worker group does not include on-site leased workers.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers' firm, the petitioner, and the
American Forest and Paper Association.
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 sales and/or
production by Whiting Paper Company have decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because aggregate
imports of articles like or directly competitive with the
specialty colored papers produced by Whiting Paper Company have
increased during the relevant period when compared to the
representative base period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because increased
imports contributed importantly to worker group separations
and sales/production declines at Whiting Paper Company.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Whiting Paper
Company, who are engaged in activities related to the production
and conversion of specialty colored papers, 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 Whiting Paper Company, Menasha, Wisconsin,
who became totally or partially separated from employment
on or after April 1, 2015 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 22nd day of July 2017.
/s/Del Min Amy Chen
______________________________
DEL MIN AMY CHEN
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance